​The semifinal lineup for the 2026 World Cup is set, and it’s arguably the strongest quartet you could have imagined, featuring the two finalists from the last European Championship and the two finalists from the last World Cup. Despite the many shocks, twists, and dramatic moments that have defined this tournament, the four remaining teams have largely lived up to expectations as the pre-tournament favorites. That doesn’t mean the road here has been smooth for everyone; Argentina, in particular, have navigated some memorable moments to reach this stage. As defending champions, they have delivered some of the most entertaining knockout ties of the tournament, and while their 1-0 win over Switzerland in the semifinal wouldn’t quite match the cinematic highs of the early fixtures against Cape Verde or Egypt, it still produced one of the competition’s standout strikes in Julián Álvarez’s extra-time winner.
Credit to Switzerland for keeping Argentina to a single goal over 90 minutes; their fate perhaps could have shifted had Breel Embolo not been dismissed in controversial fashion after a second yellow that followed a dubious dive in the second half. With ten men, the Swiss held firm into extra time but ultimately could not force penalties. Enzo Fernández played the full 90 minutes before being substituted for extra time, while Valentín Barco remained unused in the matchday squad.
Argentina will now face England in the second semifinal on Wednesday, after the English outmaneuvered a visibly exhausted Norway in sweltering Miami conditions. Norway had taken the lead through a spectacular strike from Andreas Schjelderup, only for Jude Bellingham to restore parity on the cusp of halftime, potentially aided by a glimpse of the eventful skies overhead—the kind of moment that has become part of World Cup lore when heavy humidity and bright lights intersected with the game. The two teams battled through regulation with both sides creating opportunities, and the game might have stayed level had it not been for a costly error from Norway’s goalkeeper, who spilled a routine shot that Bellingham pounced on for his brace—the youngest player to score a brace in a World Cup knockout match since Pelé. It was a moment that encapsulated the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a knockout fixture under the sun and floodlights, where a single micro-misstep can decide the result.
England’s manager, Thomas Tuchel, voiced clear displeasure with his team’s style at times, yet praised the collective effort, resilience, and grit displayed by the squad. The conditions in Miami were brutal, and such matches often feel like a test of fitness, focus, and nerve as much as technical ability. England answered the call and secured their place in the last four, setting up a blockbuster semifinal against Argentina. The winners of that clash will advance to the final, where they will meet the victors of the other semifinal between France and Spain, in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to a tournament that has delivered spectacle, drama, and high-quality football in equal measure.
In terms of squad usage, Reece James did not start but came on to play nearly an hour, providing a timely boost for England and emerging from the match without obvious fatigue concerns. Trevoh Chalobah, meanwhile, was not part of the matchday squad. As the tournament progresses, teams continue to manage minutes and rotation with the aim of peaking at the right moment, and both England and Argentina have shown they can adapt to tough circumstances while maintaining the focus needed to progress.
With the stage set for a monumental semifinal between Argentina and England, the World Cup final edge now seems within reach for both nations. The winner will battle the victor of France against Spain, a match-up that could shape the narrative of the tournament’s closing days. The anticipation is high, the narratives are rich, and the action on the pitch has lived up to the hype as fans across the globe await a clash that could define this World Cup’s legacy.