Can you believe it? Only four teams remain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 as we head into the semi-finals of the biggest international football tournament of all time.
England take on old rivals Argentina after coming from behind to beat Norway in the quarter-finals, while La Albiceleste defeated Switzerland after extra-time.
The Three Lions won the most recent World Cup meeting between the two nations in 2002, though Argentina have won the last two knockout encounters. A potentially good omen for Thomas Tuchel’s men can perhaps be found in the fact England did beat the South American on their way to winning the tournament in 1966, 60 long years ago.
𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟔. 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟖. 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟐. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. 🇦🇷⚔️🏴
Argentina and England will clash in the World Cup Semi-Finals! Drop your score predictions! 🍿👇 pic.twitter.com/rwNWF59jaG
— The Football Faithful (@FootyFaithful_) July 12, 2026
In the other semi-final, favourites France will face Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2024 semi-final from two years ago. Les Bleus will be out to exact revenge after losing that game in Germany.
We’ve ranked the final four teams ahead of the penultimate round of matches. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree!
World Cup Power Rankings:
4. Argentina ⬇️
Argentina’s run to the last four of the competition has been a lot more interesting than it ought to have been. They were handed the softest schedule of any team, facing Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland, but were made to sweat in each game.
The reigning champions’ lack of pace and width in the squad has been badly exposed, while Lionel Messi looks fatigued after having to play two periods of extra time. They have been hugely reliant on the Inter Miami star throughout the tournament, although others did at least step up when needed against the Swiss.
It’s difficult to envisage Argentina being anything other than physically dominated by England on Wednesday.
Read – The only players to score 5+ goals at two World Cup tournaments
3. England ⬆️
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a talented England team struggle through matches against weaker opposition in a major tournament, but create enough moments and defend well enough to make a deep run.
This has been more or less the story of the Three Lions since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018. Thomas Tuchel has repeated that feat with the current side and will be hoping to go one step further this week.
With Jude Bellingham, anything is possible. The Real Madrid star has bailed the team several times already when they needed him most. He is almost as important to England as Messi is to Argentina.
One of the most impressive things about this squad is the depth. Norway were the better side for much of Saturday’s quarter-final and probably should have won it in normal. But Tuchel was able to unload his bench and turn the tide in England’s favour. Bukayo Saka was excellent down the right after coming on, Djed Spence locked down the left side of defence, and Dan Burn was a one-man cross repellant.
Read – Harry Kane says England can still reach another level
2. Spain ↔️
Before the tournament began, Spain were my pick to win the tournament. They slayed France and England, two of the best teams in the world, while playing a brilliant style of football on their way to winning Euro 2024.
La Roja have not, however, shown the same flair this summer. They have gone with a much more conservative approach, which is in large part due to the fitness, or lack thereof, of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Yamal suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the season and has not yet return to his best form. Williams has barely played since sustaining a muscular injury against Uruguay, taking away a huge threat from their forward line.
Spain have managed without him, especially on the defensive side; they have given up just one goal in six matches. But there would have been a massive sense of relief from Spain fans to see him come off the bench for the final 10 minutes of their quarter-final win over Belgium. He is a genuine game changer.
Read – Five of the best players to never win the World Cup
1. France ↔️
Like Spain, France have not played as I imagined they would. For 14 years we have seen Didier Deschamps set up his team to play risk-free football, trudging through matches with the goal of not making any mistakes. It was maddening at times, seeing a squad full of superstars play some of the most boring football on the international stage.
But this year, in Deschamps’ final tournament as the national team manager, the leash has been taken off. Again, much like Spain, this has been out of necessity; Aurelien Tchouameni’s injury has taken away the option of playing three in midfield (the manager has also resisted the option of fielding N’Golo Kante).
Deschamps has instead decided to play with four attackers, which has resulted in some absorbingly sumptuous football. Kylian Mbappe is frightening enough for opponents, let alone when he’s surrounded by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola.
The decision to move Michael Olise centrally after he played on the right in the group stage opener against Senegal has been a masterstroke. The Bayern Munich man has been their top performer so far and any side looking to stop France will have to nullify him at the very least.
Read – Tuchel admits England ‘lucky’ to reach World Cup semi-final after beating Norway
See Also – Five of the best World Cup quarter-final clashes
