World Cup 2026: After 100 matches, the semifinals belong to soccer's heavyweights

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cape Verde’s Blue Sharks brought joy and revelation. Mexico reintroduced the world to the wonders of Azteca. The U.S. performed with energy, excitement and elegance … until it all ended abruptly and horrifically.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić made curtain calls. Brazil, Germany and Uruguay tottered and crashed. Egypt left furious and shattered. Morocco showed 2022 was no fluke. A tip of the cap to Curaçao’s Blue Wave, Ivory Coast’s Elephants and Panama’s Canaleros.

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Dutch fans danced left and right, Norwegians rowed into our hearts and the Scots drank Boston dry.

But as the 2026 World Cup rounds into its final days, starting with Tuesday’s semifinal at the galactic stadium outside Dallas, a 48-nation tournament has narrowed to four standard-bearers. Everyone else will watch with envy from home.

Not since 1990 has the final four featured nothing but previous champions and, for the first time, the last four is the first four in FIFA’s rankings.

Suffice to say here in Texas, this ain’t their first rodeo.

A general view of the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 12, 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament semi-final match between France and Spain on July 14.FRANCK FIFE via Getty Images

In their third consecutive semifinal and fifth over 28 years, France’s twice-crowned Les Bleus will face Spain’s 2010-winning La Roja on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET at climate-controlled AT&T Stadium. Twenty-four hours later in Atlanta’s roofed palace, reigning champion Argentina will face an English side determined to end a 60-year wait.

The survivors will meet Sunday at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

“Everyone is a heavyweight,” Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente said. “If we are talking about the gap between teams, we are evenly matched. It’s all very tight.”

There are no decided underdogs to be found, unlike 2022 (Morocco), 2010 (Uruguay), 2002 (Türkiye and South Korea), 1998 (Croatia) and 1994 (Bulgaria).

Tournament favorites when this jamboree opened more than a month ago, France and Spain will clash for the first time since last summer’s 5-4 ruckus, won by La Roja, in the Nations League semifinals. (Spain also won the Euro 2024 semifinal meeting.)

They’ve been on this collision course since the Dec. 5 draw in Washington, D.C., placed them in the same probable knockout bracket.

“We know this might be a spectacular game,” said French coach Didier Deschamps, who will leave the program after 14 years and four World Cups — an uncommonly long tenure for a national team boss.

Pressed on whether he still believes Spain is the favorite, Deschamps said, “Yes. If you’ve seen what they’ve done, they have confirmed they’re the favorite.”

He grinned and added, “I don’t want to add extra pressure” on de la Fuente, who oversaw a Euro title two years ago.

Since losing to Spain last year, Les Bleus has gone 15-1-1 and roared through six World Cup matches with a 16-2 goal differential. Not including a Nations League shootout setback to Portugal last year, La Roja has not lost across 36 matches (27-0-9) over 28 months and did not concede a goal in the first five World Cup games until Belgium nicked one in the quarterfinals.

Les Bleus are the third team in history to advance to three straight World Cup semifinals, following Germany (twice) and Brazil.

“It will be a great game for the people in Spain and France,” said Spanish star Lamine Yamal, who celebrated his 19th birthday Monday.

Yamal was asked about comments following the quarterfinal victory over Belgium in which he seemed to suggest France should fear Spain. Yamal said his words were “misinterpreted.” He clarified Monday by saying he was referring to the European champions being unafraid of any challenge.

“We are the French national team,” midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery said Monday. “We are not afraid of anybody.”

The match pits two of the world’s most talented and popular players, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Yamal.

The race to the World Cup final runs through another semifinal between two of soccer’s biggest stars: France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal.Jean Catuffe via Getty Images

One on one with the unpredictable winger could pose problems, Deschamps conceded about Yamal, but “we have many solutions.”

Zaire-Emery said “Lamine has extraordinary qualities — he can do anything — but it’s a collective sport.”

Yamal has had flashes of brilliance, but not the defining World Cup performance many anticipated.

“The big day from Lamine is still to come,” de la Fuente said. “Hopefully tomorrow is the day.”

Deschamps said Mbappé is 100 percent after showing signs of injury during the quarterfinal victory over Morocco. Mbappé’s 12 goals in knockout stages over three World Cups are a record. His eight goals this summer are tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot award.

The France-Spain winner will head to the final as the favorite, but the trophy is far from certain. In Atlanta, Argentina remains in contention to become the first repeat champion since Pelé’s Brazil in 1962. To get here, La Albiceleste survived massive scares from Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland.

“This group has gotten people used to doing things that aren’t normal,” Messi said. “It’s not easy coming from being world champions, winning everything we have and continuing to compete, staying at the top level, being among the four best, playing in another semifinal. It isn’t normal.” 

England displayed character and resolve in coming from behind to edge DR Congo, outlasting Mexico at Azteca and overturning a deficit to oust Erling Haaland and Norway.

“We want to get over the line,” star striker Harry Kane, on BBC Radio, said of English heartbreak spanning generations. “That is the missing piece now.”

First, though, comes France vs. Spain and Mbappé vs. Yamal.

Yamal spent part of his birthday with his 3-year-old half-brother, Keyne, whose expressions at Spanish matches have turned him into a social media sensation.

“I’m relaxed for the game,” Lamine said. “Today I was with my brother getting a haircut.”

As for a birthday present, Lamine said, “My gift would be a victory tomorrow and a chance to go to New York” for the final.

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