England vs. Argentina: a semifinal steeped in history
England and Argentina will renew one of football’s greatest rivalries in a clash loaded with history, 40 years after Diego Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory.
The Three Lions booked their place in the last four thanks to an outstanding performance from Jude Bellingham, who scored twice in Saturday’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway in Miami. Later that day in Kansas City, Argentina needed extra time to overcome a Switzerland side reduced to 10 men, eventually prevailing 3-1.
Since lifting their only World Cup trophy in 1966, England have reached the semifinals just twice—against West Germany in 1990 and Croatia in 2018.
Wednesday’s showdown in Atlanta inevitably brings back memories of some of the most iconic meetings between the two nations: England’s triumph in 1966, the legendary 1986 quarterfinal at the Azteca Stadium that cemented Maradona’s status, and Argentina’s victory in the round of 16 at Saint-Étienne in 1998, a match remembered in part for David Beckham’s red card.
This time, the contest appears wide open, especially given Argentina’s heavy reliance on Lionel Messi’s moments of brilliance throughout the knockout stage.
France vs. Spain: attacking flair meets defensive solidity
The old rivals will meet again on July 14. France secured their place in the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over Morocco, while Spain edged Belgium 2-1 thanks to another ruthless efficiency.
The matchup is a rematch of the semifinal at the last European Championship, when Luis de la Fuente’s side came from behind to defeat France 2-1. Two years ago in Munich, Kylian Mbappé and his teammates saw their early lead disappear before spending the rest of the match chasing an equalizer that never came.
Their most memorable World Cup encounter dates back to 2006, also in Germany, when Spain faced France in Hanover. Ahead of the round-of-16 clash, sections of the Spanish press had claimed that Spain will sent Zinédine Zidane into retirement. Instead, France’s experienced side produced a spirited 3-1 victory.
On Tuesday in Dallas, Spain will be looking for revenge, while France will hope to celebrate Bastille Day in style.
World Cup 2026 semifinal schedule
- France vs. Spain — Tuesday, July 14, at 8 p.m. at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.
- England vs. Argentina — Wednesday, July 15, at 8 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
