​We’re down to four teams in the 2026 World Cup — France, Spain, England, and Argentina. If you guessed these four would reach the semifinals before the tournament began, congratulations — you clearly enjoy betting on tournament favorites. And this time your instinct is proving to be correct. The last four feel like a modern replay of historic rivalries: a Franco-Spanish clash reminiscent of centuries of competition on one side, and English-Argentine tensions echoing the Falklands era on the other. In this edition, though, any side can beat any other, and that unpredictability promises a knockout round that should be a lot of fun to watch.
One odd wrinkle this week is the lull in football action before the semifinals. There are no matches scheduled until Tuesday, which is almost surreal after a month of nonstop football. I’ve consumed more games than I can count, and I’ll probably spend the break perched in the corner, knees tucked in, rocking a little from withdrawal symptoms. The wait is real, but the anticipation remains high for what promises to be a memorable finish.
In the first quarterfinal, goals by Schjlederup in the 32nd minute and a late brace from Jude Bellingham at 45+2 and 93 minutes sealed the deal for England, as they edged past their opponents. If there’s a talking point beyond the result, it’s the controversy around a goal kick that seemingly deflected off a spidercam cable and contributed to one of England’s goals, coupled with a Norway goal being ruled out after Erling Haaland shoved a defender in the chest near the corner. Was the football itself memorable? The early phase had England playing at a reduced tempo for the first 20 minutes, finding their rhythm only after halftime. Still, Jude Bellingham’s talent was on full display, and Djed Spence continued to justify his place in the lineup with another impressive late sub appearance for Thomas Tuchel. England earned the right to advance to a semifinal meeting with Argentina.
In the other quarterfinal, goals by Mac Allister in the 10th minute, Alvarez in the 112th, and Lautaro Martinez in stoppage time at 120+1 secured Argentina’s victory, while Ndoye struck for Switzerland in the 67th minute. I didn’t stay up to watch this one live and am relying on the highlights to relay the narrative. What stood out? Alexis Mac Allister looked very much at ease in the sun, and Argentina benefited from a controversial moment as Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for a theatrical flop that earned a sending-off. Alvarez delivered a superb extra-time strike to seal the win for Argentina, underscoring why they’re still in the tournament and one of the teams to beat.
So here we are, down to the Final Four. Which matchups do you think will culminate in the championship? Who do you foresee meeting in the final? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.