The 2026 World Cup has reached the final four, with France and Spain opening the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday and Argentina meeting England in Atlanta a day later.
France’s prolific attack will face Spain’s formidable defense in the first semi-final, while the second will revive one of the World Cup’s most historic rivalries.
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Off the pitch, Norway’s players were given a hero’s welcome in Oslo, Erling Haaland’s unusual souvenir went viral and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a proposal to expand the 2030 tournament to 64 teams would be considered.
Here’s what you need to know about the World Cup semi-finals:
What is the schedule for the first semi-final?
- France vs SpainTuesday, July 14 (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
Which teams made it to the semi-finals?
Here are the teams vying for a place in the World Cup finals:
- France (win over Morocco 2-0)
- Spain (won Belgium 2-1)
- England (defeated Norway 2-1)
- Argentina (defeated Switzerland 3-1 in extra time)
What are the predictions for the match France – Spain?
Both teams reached the final four thanks to different styles, with Spain relying on outstanding defensive performances and France relying on one of the most dangerous attacks of the tournament. Spain had just seven shots on target in six matches, with Aymeric Laporte, Unai Simon and Rodri leading a disciplined defensive group.
France, meanwhile, scored 16 goals, the highest scoring total of any team in the tournament. Kylian Mbappe continued his exceptional World Cup form with eight goals, while Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise added creativity and quality in the final third. The semi-final in Dallas will be a battle between Spain’s defensive resilience and France’s attacking firepower, with the winner potentially taking a major step towards lifting the trophy.
As of Sunday, the Opta supercomputer gives France a 42.1 percent chance of winning in regulation time, while Spain has a 31.8 percent chance of winning. The model estimates the probability of the game going to overtime with a probability of 26.1%.
What else is going on?
Argentina-England rivalry renewed
Reigning champions Argentina will take on England in the second World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, reigniting one of football’s most bitter and historic rivalries.
World Cup meetings between the two countries have rarely been without controversy or memorable moments. From Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal in 1986 to David Beckham’s red card for hitting Diego Simeone in 1998, Argentina’s match against England has been one of the most dramatic chapters of the tournament.
Now, 24 years after they last met at the World Cup, the two teams return to the biggest stage to write a new chapter in their legendary rivalry.
The match will also mark the first World Cup meeting between Argentina legend Lionel Messi and England’s current crop of stars, including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. The Atlanta Police Department says it will “strengthen” its “citywide public safety” before the game.
The winner of the semi-finals will advance to Sunday’s final, where they will face France or Spain for the chance to lift the World Cup trophy and become world champions again.
Argentina’s Diego Maradona celebrates his second goal against England in the World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico City, Mexico, June 22, 1986 (File: AP)
Norway’s heroic return home
More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of the Norwegian capital Oslo to hail their football team as heroes, turning the heartbreak of their World Cup exit into a massive national celebration.
Translation: NORWAY HAS GONE! 90 thousand people greeted their team after the World Cup. The Prince of Norway played the drum, and the whole city engaged in “Norwegian rowing.” IMPRESSIVE.
A whimsical souvenir from Haaland’s raccoon
Erling Haaland returned to Norway after participating in the World Cup, cementing his status as one of the tournament’s biggest stars. But he did not return home alone.
The striker landed in Oslo on Saturday, July 11, after Norway’s quarter-final trip to England, with an unexpected traveling companion: a stuffed raccoon.
Photos and video of Haaland leaving the plane with the stuffed animal quickly went viral on social media, turning the unusual souvenir into one of the most talked-about off-field moments of the 2026 World Cup.
Taking advantage of the joke, Haaland later posted on X: “It followed me home,” alongside a raccoon and laughing face emoji.
The 25-year-old also asked fans to help name his new partner through a poll on Instagram Stories. Options included “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “TECH” and “ROW (Raccoon on Wheels),” a playful reference to the viral Norwegian rowing celebration that became one of the team’s defining traditions during its memorable World Championships.
Could the World Cup expand?
FIFA will consider expanding the men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said.
In an interview with Swiss news outlet Bluewin, Infantino said relevant FIFA committees would consider the proposal after the 2026 tournament.
The comments come as FIFA oversees its first 48-team World Cup after expanding the tournament from the 32-team format used at every championship between 1998 and 2022.
“Teams from every continent scored goals and earned at least one point,” Infantino said. “Nine of the 10 African teams made it to the knockout stages. At the last World Cup there were only five teams from Africa. It just shows how important it is to include all teams to give them the opportunity to participate.”
Asked whether the World Cup could eventually grow to 64 teams, Infantino said the idea “will be considered and discussed” by FIFA.
He argued that the tournament should represent the whole world and not just traditional football powerhouses, saying wider participation could help countries continue to develop.
“If you don’t give smaller countries a chance to compete in the World Cup, they won’t have the incentive to keep improving,” he said.
Infantino in Qatar
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at Lusail Palace to express his condolences on the death of the Emir’s father, former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
He is expected to return to the United States within the next 24 hours. The Gulf country hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first in the Middle East.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (Amiri Diwan/Reuters)