The 48-team tournament has been reduced to 4 teams portraying pure footballing royalty, setting up two massive blockbusters that pit the clinical precision of Europe against the flair and unyielding passion of South America.
Dallas will bear witness to the relentless tactical battle as France tries to break through Spain’s aggressive tackling capacity and possession heavy approach. Atlanta will host a classic competition between England and Argentina.
Defending Champions Argentina on Saturday at the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time. Julian Alvarez broke the exhausting deadlock in the 112 minutes with a superb long-range strike before Lautaro Martinez adding a third goal in the final moments of extra time.
The Lionel Messi side will now face England in the semifinals on Wednesday. Jude Bellingham dramatic strike in the extra time helmed England’s victory against Norway 2-1 booking their spot in the semifinale. Bellingham cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup’s opener before striking again in the 93rd minute to seal victory for the Three Lions. Erling Haaland was kept scoreless for the first time in the tournament, while a second-half Norway goal was ruled out after a VAR review.
Argentina had a bright start taking the lead in the first 10 minutes. Lionel Messi delivered a corner from the left, and Alexis Mac Allister found the net to lead the defending champions. Switzerland, down to 10 men after Breel Embolo’s controversial dismissal, dug in heroically and looked set to drag Argentina to penalties before Julian Alvarez produced a moment of magic in extra time. Lautaro Martinez then wrapped it up on the break deep into stoppage time as Lionel Scaloni’s side booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals, where England await in a blockbuster last-four showdown.