​The World Cup semifinal bracket has updates to the schedule and results for the knockout phase of the 2026 tournament, with content originally published by The Sporting News. To flag The Sporting News as a preferred source, click here.
The 2026 World Cup is in its final week, leaving four teams in the hunt to hoist the trophy. This has been the biggest World Cup ever, kicking off in mid-June when 48 nations arrived in North America with hopes of a deep run. After weeks of high-intensity competition, only four teams remain, each believing they can win the title. The semifinal matchups promise an electric display as the sport’s biggest stars take the global stage. As in many sports, the semifinals mark a turning point where the dream of a championship becomes increasingly attainable.
Here is the World Cup bracket for the semifinal round. The latest World Cup updates, full schedule, and ticket information can be found in the section labeled “World Cup HQ.” The semifinals feature two decisive matches that will determine which teams advance to the Final on July 19, while the losers in each match will compete in the third-place game on July 18.
One semifinal pairing will be played on Tuesday between France and Spain, while the other will see England face Argentina on Wednesday. England entered the knockout rounds as Group L winners and defeated DR Congo in the Round of 32, Mexico in the Round of 16, and Norway in the quarterfinals. Argentina won Group J and eliminated Cape Verde in the Round of 32 and Egypt in the Round of 16 before beating Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The Switzerland run also included a win over Algeria in the Round of 32 and Colombia in the Round of 16, with their quarterfinal meeting coming against Argentina.
After a thrilling quarterfinal round, the field was reduced to four teams. Here are the results from the quarterfinals: on Thursday, July 9, France defeated Morocco 2-0; on Friday, July 10, Spain beat Belgium 2-1; on Saturday, July 11, England edged Norway 2-1 (after extra time); on Saturday, July 11, Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 (after extra time).
With four teams remaining, the semifinal round follows a traditional knockout format: there are two matches, the winners of which advance to the final scheduled for the following weekend.
The expanded World Cup format has posed new challenges for the teams still alive, as they have endured the tournament longer than in previous editions. The four remaining teams earned their spots by progressing through three group-stage matches and three knockout-stage matches apiece. If a knockout match is tied at the end of 90 minutes, it proceeds to extra time, consisting of two 15-minute periods with stoppage time and a short intermission between periods, totaling 30 additional minutes. Unlike a golden goal scenario, the teams must secure a lead by the end of the extra time to win. If still tied after extra time, the match advances to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.