The 2026 World Cup has reached its climax with a final four lineup consisting entirely of former tournament winners. The upcoming semifinal matches promise to be intense, as the surviving teams prepare to battle for a spot in the final, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The first semifinal encounter will feature France and Spain. This match is set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, July 14. France, a two-time tournament winner with titles in 1998 and 2018, continues to be led by modern icon Kylian Mbappe. While France boasts a formidable defensive unit that has conceded only one goal across six matches, they face the difficult task of containing Spain’s dynamic attacker Lamine Yamal.
On Wednesday, July 15, the focus shifts to Atlanta, where defending champion Argentina will face England. This highly anticipated clash serves as a rematch of the historic 1986 World Cup encounter famous for the “Hand of God” goal. Argentina enters the contest seeking to add to their three previous World Cup titles, while England aims to capture their second championship, having secured their only prior victory on home soil in 1966.
USA TODAY Sports has provided its official picks for these semifinal showdowns as the tournament nears its conclusion. Winners of the Arlington and Atlanta matches will proceed to the championship final in New Jersey.
