Four Teams. Two Games. One Trophy. The World Cup Semifinals Are Here.

Four Teams. Two Games. One Trophy.

The 2026 World Cup is down to its final four. And by the time Friday morning arrives in Nairobi, we will know who is playing in the final on Sunday.

Tonight at 10pm EAT, France face Spain in Dallas. On Wednesday at 10pm EAT, Argentina face England in Atlanta.

Both games deserve to be the final. Both will feel like one.

Here is everything you need to know before you sit down tonight.

France vs Spain – Tonight, 10pm EAT

The numbers, first.

France have won six games from six at this World Cup. Sixteen goals scored. Two conceded. Mbappé has eight goals and three assists. He has scored in five of France’s six games and netted the opening goal in five of them. According to Opta Analyst, France have a 33.6% probability of winning the whole tournament – the highest of anyone left.

Spain have been equally impressive, just quieter about it. They conceded zero goals for 650 minutes – the longest shutout streak in World Cup history – before Charles De Ketelaere’s header for Belgium finally ended it in the quarterfinal. One goal conceded in six games total. Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo have controlled every midfield they have walked into.

It genuinely could go either way.

The head-to-head history favours Spain on paper – 18 wins against France’s 13 across 38 meetings (Al Jazeera). But they have only played once at a World Cup, in the Round of 16 at the 2006 tournament in Germany, and France won 3-1 through goals from Ribery, Vieira and Zidane. Their most recent competitive meeting was the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, where Spain won 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller with Yamal scoring twice. Spain have beaten France in three of their last four competitive knockout ties.

That said, France since that Nations League loss have won every single game they have played. Perfect record coming in.

If France win tonight, they become only the second European nation to appear in three consecutive World Cup finals, after West Germany across 1982, 1986 and 1990. They won in 2018. Lost to Argentina in the final in Qatar 2022 in the greatest final ever played. A third straight final would be a historic achievement on its own.

The key matchup everyone will be watching is Mbappé against Lamine Yamal. Both play for rival clubs in La Liga – Real Madrid and Barcelona. They know each other from El Clásico, from Champions League knockouts, from the Nations League last year. Tonight they share a World Cup semifinal. Yamal turned 19 years old on Monday. Mbappé is 27. One has eight goals this tournament. The other has one. But one moment from Yamal, and he has already shown he is capable of them, changes everything.

Spain’s Luis de la Fuente said before the game: “We are the only team to have beaten them in two semifinals.” He is right. He also said it was “a final before the final.” He is right about that too.

One thing to watch: Mbappé came off in the quarterfinal against Morocco with ice on his right ankle. He has since trained fully and is expected to start. But if Spain’s press finds that ankle early, it matters.

Argentina vs England – Wednesday, 10pm EAT

This rivalry does not need an introduction. But the records are worth knowing.

England and Argentina have faced each other at the World Cup five times before Wednesday. The 1966 quarterfinal where Argentina’s captain Rattin was sent off and escorted from the pitch by police. 1986 and Maradona’s Hand of God, followed eight minutes later by the Goal of the Century – both in the same game. 1998 and David Beckham’s red card for kicking Diego Simeone, England losing on penalties. 2002 and Owen’s solo goal before Beckham’s penalty sealed a 1-0 win.

Wednesday will be the sixth time they meet at a World Cup. And the first time Lionel Messi faces England in any competition, in any game, ever.

Messi made his international debut in 2005 and was serving a suspension for the one Argentina-England friendly that happened during his career. He has now faced every other World Cup champion – Germany, France, Brazil, Italy, Uruguay, Spain, but never England. At 39 years old, in what is his last ever World Cup, he faces them for the first time in a semifinal.

He has 21 World Cup goals. The all-time record. Eight at this tournament, joint top with Mbappé. He has also recorded double figures in goal contributions at two consecutive World Cups – only the second player to do that since records began in 1966 (Opta Analyst).

England’s threat comes from somewhere different. Bellingham has scored twice in consecutive knockout matches – braces against Mexico and Norway. He is the first player to do that in the same World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986 (FOX Sports). The same tournament where Argentina beat England with the Hand of God. That stat is almost too poetic.

Kane has six goals and 120 caps. On Wednesday he earns his 121st, passing Wayne Rooney as the most-capped England outfield player in history. Peter Shilton’s overall record of 125 is in sight before the tournament ends.

Argentina have scored 17 goals at this tournament. Their best ever tally at a single World Cup is 18, set at the 1930 tournament. One more goal equals it. Two breaks it.

Argentina have never lost a World Cup semifinal in their history. Five from five (Al Jazeera). If they reach the final, Scaloni becomes only the seventh manager ever to appear in two World Cup finals, and only the second Argentine, after Carlos Bilardo in 1986 and 1990.

The tactical question is whether England can manage Messi’s movement between the lines without leaving Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez space in behind. Declan Rice, John Stones and Marc Guehi have to solve that. England are also excellent at set pieces – Rice’s delivery onto Kane and Stones is a genuine weapon. Against a team that depends heavily on Messi, one set piece could settle it.

According to Opta, England advance in 51.9% of simulations. Almost exactly a coin flip.

But Argentina have never gone home from a World Cup semifinal. And Messi has been saving England for last.

What Is At Stake

The final is Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Golden Boot race going into the semifinals:

Mbappé – 8 goals

Messi – 8 goals

Kane – 6 goals

Bellingham – 6 goals

If France and Argentina both win, we get a rematch of the 2022 Qatar final. Mbappé vs Messi. The greatest game ever played at a World Cup, again.

If it goes any other way, we get something new. Something historic for the first time.

Either outcome works. That is the kind of World Cup this has been.

Final stretch in the World Cup 2026 on Uradi News