World Cup 2026 semi-finalists prepare for decisive...

By Rohan Gupta — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

Four nations vie for the title

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its concluding phase, with only four teams remaining in contention for the championship. For the first time since FIFA introduced its world rankings in 1992, the top four-ranked teams globally—France, Argentina, Spain, and England—have all advanced to the semi-finals. This also marks the first instance since the 1990 tournament that all four semi-finalists are former world champions, highlighting the high calibre of the teams still competing.

The tournament, which was expanded to include 48 teams and a record 104 matches, has seen various outcomes, including unexpected upsets and emotional exits. However, as the competition nears its end, the remaining contenders align with their FIFA rankings.

Semi-final matchups and predictions

The semi-final schedule features two significant encounters. Spain is set to face France in Arlington, Texas, on July 15. The following day, July 16, defending champions Argentina will play against England in Atlanta. The teams that do not advance will compete in the third-place playoff in Miami on July 19, leading up to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 20.

Betting markets offer insights into potential outcomes. According to Kalshi, France is favoured to reach the final against Spain, with a 59% probability compared to Spain’s 41%. For the second semi-final, England holds a slight advantage over Argentina, with a 54% chance of progressing against Argentina’s 46%. Polymarket shows a similar trend, also suggesting a France versus England final.

Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe Credit: bbc.com

Journalists and fans from the participating nations have shared their perspectives. A Spanish journalist noted that Spain has a strong chance if they can control the ball against France and be more efficient, potentially with a strong performance from Lamine Yamal. An English journalist believes France is likely to win the trophy, citing their attacking prowess with players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise. A French journalist highlighted the team’s strong confidence and lack of internal controversy, while an Argentine journalist views France as the top team due to their offensive strength and improved defence.

Outright winner and individual awards

Regarding the outright winner, betting markets predominantly favour France. Approximately 39% of bets across two major prediction platforms have supported Didier Deschamps’ team to win the World Cup. England is the second favourite, attracting around 22% of predictions, closely followed by Spain with approximately 21%. Despite being the defending champions and featuring Lionel Messi, Argentina is the least favoured among the four remaining teams, with about 18% of predictions backing them to retain their title.

The race for individual awards is also closely watched. For the Golden Boot, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are currently tied with eight goals each, while Harry Kane has six. Betting markets heavily favour Mbappe to be the leading scorer. In the Golden Ball race for the tournament’s best player, Mbappe also leads predictions, with Messi as his closest competitor, and Jude Bellingham also in contention.

Lamine Yamal is considered the overwhelming favourite for the Best Young Player award. For the Golden Glove, France goalkeeper Mike Maignan is ahead in predictions, narrowly surpassing Spain’s Unai Simon. The semi-final matches are scheduled for July 15 and July 16.