​There were a record 104 matches in the 2026 World Cup, a pace that felt relentless from the tournament’s kickoff on June 11 when Mexico, the host nation, opened the event, through the end of the round of 16 on July 7. The schedule produced 27 consecutive days with at least one game per day, and there were days when as many as six matches were played in a single day. That non-stop rhythm made it feel odd as the World Cup drew toward its conclusion, with teams being eliminated and the total number of matches shrinking as the tournament progressed.
After the quarterfinals, the field narrowed to four teams, leaving three matches between those teams to determine the World Cup champion. France, Spain, England, and Argentina remained in the mix, each eager to lift the trophy. However, there was a one-day break with no World Cup match on Sunday, July 12. The schedule gap stood between the completion of the quarterfinals and the start of the semifinals.
The next World Cup match would be the opening fixture of the semifinals: France versus Spain, set to kick off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The other semifinal, featuring England against Argentina, was slated for 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
On the field, anticipation built as fans prepared for the semifinals—France versus Spain in Texas and England versus Argentina in Georgia. One highlight moment that stood out was US forward Folarin Balogun celebrating after scoring his team’s third goal during the group stage match between the United States and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. This image from Patrick Fallon of AFP via Getty Images captured the energy and excitement surrounding the tournament’s early stages.
This overview originally appeared in USA TODAY, outlining the World Cup schedule and when semifinals would begin for readers seeking the latest information on match times and venues. The 2026 edition’s schedule emphasized the transition from a packed, nonstop early phase to a climactic set of knockout games, with fans watching eagerly as the field narrowed to four teams and then to the two sides that would compete for the title.