The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its last-four stage, with two high-profile ties set to take place this week: France will meet Spain on Tuesday, before Argentina face England on Wednesday.
Argentina secured the final semi-final berth late on Saturday, defeating 10-man Switzerland in extra time in Kansas City.
Goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez settled the contest, after Switzerland had equalised through Dan Ndoye following an opening strike from Alexis Mac Allister.
Victory puts Argentina on course to become the first side since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back world titles.
Meanwhile, England booked their place earlier on Saturday, beating Norway 2–1 after extra time in Miami.
Jude Bellingham scored both goals for the Three Lions.
“The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance … we were very lucky today,” manager Thomas Tuchel said, according to AFP.
England have reached this stage four times since their 1966 triumph, but have not advanced further since 2018.
Argentina, by contrast, have won all six of their previous World Cup semi-final fixtures.
Argentina and England renew historic rivalry
The meeting in Atlanta marks the first time the two nations have faced each other at this stage of the competition, and revives memories of their famous 1986 quarter-final at the Estadio Azteca.
On that day, Diego Maradona scored twice in a 2–1 win – his first goal, the controversial “Hand of God”, and his second widely regarded as one of the finest individual goals in tournament history.
The fixture also takes place against the background of the long-running dispute over sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, which led to conflict between the two countries in 1982.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the focus must remain strictly on the match.
“It is a football game, and we will be playing against a very tough opponent. They have an excellent coach and this is a football game and that’s all,” he noted.
The match will be the 206th senior appearance for Lionel Messi, and his first-ever international fixture against England.
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France and Spain meet again after Euro 2024 clash
Tuesday’s fixture near Dallas sees a repeat of last year’s European Championship semi-final, which Spain won 2–1 on their way to lifting that trophy.
Lamine Yamal scored during that match, just days before turning 17. Now aged 19 and a key figure for Spain, Yamal began this World Cup carrying an injury and has yet to reach his highest level in front of goal.
France’s Kylian Mbappé, on the other hand, currently has eight tournament goals, leaving him one short of Messi’s all-time World Cup record of 21.
The build-up has also been overshadowed by political remarks.
Former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy wrote in a newspaper piece that the France squad “had no French players”.
The comment was condemned by Spain’s current prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, as “xenophobic”, while France’s interior minister, Laurent Nunez, framed it as “absolutely unacceptable”.
Structure and final details
This edition of the World Cup was arranged so that the four highest-ranked teams would not meet before the semi-finals, provided they won their respective groups.
That rule ensured France, Spain, Argentina and England remained separated until now.
The winners of both semi-finals will contest the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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