France, Spain, England and Argentina booked for 2026 World Cup semifinals
France, Spain, England and Argentina have secured the four places in the semi‑finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the quarter‑finals France defeated Morocco 2‑0, Spain beat Belgium 2‑1, England came from behind to overcome Norway 2‑1 after Jude Bellingham scored twice, and defending champions Argentina won 3‑1 after extra time against Switzerland. The semi‑final pairings are France vs Spain in Dallas on 14 July and England vs Argentina in Atlanta on 15 July, both kicking off at 16:00 local time. All four teams are former World Cup champions – a first since the 1990 tournament – and they also occupy the top four spots in the current FIFA rankings, a situation made possible by a new draw format that kept the highest‑ranked sides apart until the semi‑finals. The outcomes have already affected other competitions, prompting a delayed start to Spain’s La Liga season to accommodate the extended tournament schedule.