The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its decisive stage with four football powerhouses—France, Spain, Argentina and England—set to battle for a place in the final after a month-long tournament featuring an expanded 48-team format.

The first semi-final will see France take on Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 14, while defending champions Argentina will face England at Atlanta Stadium a day later in one of international football's most anticipated rivalries.

The winners will advance to the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium near New York City.

Argentina Continue Title Defence

Argentina booked the final semi-final berth after overcoming Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in Kansas City.

Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina the lead before Dan Ndoye equalised for Switzerland. With the match heading into extra time, Julian Alvarez produced a spectacular strike before Lautaro Martinez sealed victory with a late goal.

The defending champions are now aiming to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to retain the FIFA World Cup title.

England End Norway Challenge

England reached the last four after defeating Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami.

Midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice to inspire England, although head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted his side was fortunate despite securing qualification.

"The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance. We were very lucky today," Tuchel said after the match.

England have now reached only their fourth FIFA World Cup semi-final, following appearances in 1966, 1990 and 2018. They continue their quest for a first major international trophy since lifting the World Cup on home soil in 1966.

Historic Argentina-England Rivalry Renewed

The semi-final between Argentina and England will revive one of football's most historic rivalries.

The fixture comes 40 years after the famous 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Diego Maradona inspired Argentina to victory with the iconic "Hand of God" goal and one of the greatest solo goals in football history.

For Lionel Messi, the upcoming match will mark his 206th international appearance and notably his first-ever match against England at senior international level.

The contest also carries historical significance because of the long-standing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, although Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni insisted the focus remains solely on football.

"This is a football game. We are playing against a very tough opponent with an excellent coach. That's all," Scaloni said.

France and Spain Eye Final Spot

The opening semi-final features two European heavyweights in a repeat of the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, where Spain defeated France before eventually winning the continental title.

Spain will once again look to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who celebrates his 19th birthday just before the match. Although he arrived at the tournament carrying an injury and has scored only once in six matches, the Barcelona star remains central to Spain's attacking plans.

Captain Rodri urged patience, saying Yamal is still learning despite his extraordinary talent.

France, meanwhile, enter the contest led by Kylian Mbappe, who has enjoyed another outstanding tournament with eight goals, including one in the quarter-final victory over Morocco.

Mbappe is level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot and sits just one goal behind the Argentine captain's all-time World Cup scoring record.

Off-Field Controversy

Ahead of the France-Spain encounter, comments made by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sparked controversy after he questioned the composition of the French national team in an opinion article.

The remarks were criticised by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who described them as xenophobic, while French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the comments "absolutely unacceptable."

Despite the off-field debate, attention is expected to shift quickly to two high-profile semi-finals that promise world-class football and determine the finalists of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.