With only one week to go before the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only four teams still dey dream of becoming world champions. We don see 44 teams, including co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and United States, as well as traditional powerhouses Brazil and Germany, fall by the wayside over the past month. Now only reigning world champions Argentina plus England, France, and Spain still get their eyes on victory for the final for New Jersey on July 19.
England get off to a flying start with a 4-2 win over Croatia, but that momentum stall with a stodgy goalless draw with Ghana. Things no been straightforward since. After an uninspiring 2-0 win against Panama set up a round-of-32 meeting with Congo DR, their campaign take a step toward infamy when them go behind early against the African side. A late two-goal salvo from Harry Kane seal a 2-1 win and spare their blushes. A major test against co-hosts Mexico for Mexico City follow where them overcome the fierce Azteca crowd, altitude fears, a Jarell Quansah red card, and a late onslaught to win 3-2 thanks to a Jude Bellingham brace and a Kane penalty. Them again show their fighting spirit for the quarterfinal, recovering from going a goal down to beat Norway 2-1 for Miami after extra time. Bellingham again be the star, scoring twice.
It hard to imagine England would don reach the semifinals without Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder score against Croatia and be the match winner against Panama with a goal and an assist, but his performances against Mexico and Norway don elevate him into the running to win the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. His display against Mexico be one of the best from an England player for recent years as his double lay the foundations for a magnificent victory. He then follow am up with another brace against Norway to take his goal tally to six for the tournament.
For terms of a moment of pure release, Kane late winner against Congo DR provide that high because of the timing, the quality, and the significance. Am cap a 15-minute brace wey go live long for the memory of England fans. Bellingham goals against Mexico also be special, although e be his winner for extra time against Norway, after Ørjan Nyland spill Morgan Rogers effort, wey come closest to matching the euphoria wey follow Kane heroics against Congo DR.
Argentina fit prepare for a semifinal with England after somehow come through three incredibly entertaining and draining knockout ties. Inspired by Lionel Messi, the world champions fly through their group with wins over Algeria (3-0), Austria (2-0), and Jordan (3-1), but them don run into huge problems for each of their games since. E take extra time to finally see off Cape Verde as the World Cup debutants twice come from behind to threaten one of the tournament biggest-ever upsets against the holders, wey win 3-2. Things look even more dire against Egypt when, with little more than 10 minutes to go, them be 2-0 down. Two goals for four minutes, via Cristian Romero and Messi, level the tie and set the stage for Enzo Fernández incredible 93rd-minute winner for another 3-2 victory. Julián Álvarez then fire in a 112th-minute wonder goal against 10-man Switzerland before Lautaro Martínez put the seal on a 3-1 win to keep the Albiceleste hopes of going back-to-back alive.
Even at 39, Messi don be head and shoulders above his teammates. He don net eight of his team 17 goals, set up another, and be the driving force for the comeback against Egypt, with a goal and an assist for the remarkable turnaround. Along the way, he don break record after record, including becoming the World Cup all-time top scorer with 21 goals. The Inter Miami star very much still get am.
E difficult to pick one moment given how ridiculous Argentina three knockout ties don be. The Cape Verde game be ludicrous, but Argentina never behind for the tie, whereas them no only dey on the ropes against Egypt, them look like them dey on their way out. Fernández header to book a quarterfinal with Switzerland lead to wild scenes for Atlanta brimming with joy and, above all, relief.
France progress to this stage don be relatively trouble-free. Them don win all six of their games, scoring 16 goals and overpowering teams with the attacking brilliance of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1) be comfortably beaten for the group stage, before Sweden be dispatched 3-0 for the round of 32. Paraguay do a better job of keeping them at bay for the round of 16, with their physical approach offering a different challenge, but a second-half penalty from Mbappé ensure the 2018 winners progress to the last eight meeting with Morocco. The African side be expected to pose more of a challenge, but France swat Morocco aside despite Mbappé get a first-half penalty saved. He make amends after the break with a fine individual goal before assist Dembélé for a 2-0 win.
Mbappé (eight goals, three assists) edge over Dembélé (five goals, two assists) and Olise (five assists). The Real Madrid striker don get an outstanding tournament and his overall World Cup record be stunning: he get 20 goals for 20 appearances, a figure bettered only by Lionel Messi. As the Morocco quarterfinal show, he again be the man driving Les Bleus push for a third World Cup title, wey would also be his second, after winning am eight years ago.
Given the ease with wey them don advance so far, there no don be that big moment at a time of need. France don produce breathtaking moments of beauty, such as Mbappé goals for the win over Sweden, wey showcase not only his killer instinct, but also the link-up play between him, Olise, and Dembélé, but perhaps the biggest release come with the opener against Morocco. Didier Deschamps side be completely for control of the tie, but Mbappé brilliant strike for the 60th minute ensure the team dominance go pay off.
Spain no don hit top gear, but there never really be the sense that the European champions dey for danger, either. Despite being held to a surprise goalless draw by Cape Verde for their opener, Spain ease through Group H with wins against Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0) before comfortably beating Austria 3-0. Them get to sweat for victory against Portugal for the round of 16, but Mikel Merino 90th-minute strike earn a 1-0 victory to send them through. Merino again be the star off the bench for the quarterfinal, coming up with the goods for the 88th minute this time as Belgium be beaten 2-1. Slow progress don allow players wey be fitness doubts, like Rodri and Lamine Yamal, to find match rhythm, while the tournament best defense don keep things drama-free. Luis de la Fuente side don concede just one goal, although Spain go need to be more ruthless for attack to get any chance against France.
Merino fit don play only 136 minutes of football for the tournament, but nobody don produce bigger moments than him for Spain. The Arsenal midfielder strike the winning goals for the round of 16 and the quarterfinal at a time when his teammates dey struggle to break through. Mikel Oyarzabal also don deliver, scoring four times, although e don fire blanks for the past two games. Rodri, meanwhile, be ever-improving as Spain wait for teenage sensation Yamal to find top form after a hamstring injury.
Merino get a knack for saving Spain. He score the winner against Germany for the quarterfinals at the last UEFA European Championship and again step off the bench and up to the plate against Portugal. His goal, with extra time looming, be the biggest moment of Spain campaign so far. Belgium just four days later to set up a showdown with France. “I still can’t quite believe am,” he talk. “I no think e go happen again. We go see.” Whatever happen from here, his place for Spanish football folklore be guaranteed.
France prove again for their 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco say them be the best team for this tournament. E be scary stuff, sure, but Spain no should be deterred. After all, as Yamal rightly point out, them beat Les Bleus for 2024 and 2025, so why no add 2026 to the list? If anyone get chance to knock them off their stride, e probably be them. Spain control the speed of play better than everyone, forcing everybody else to play at their pace. Them go use possession as a defensive mechanism, limiting how much time on the ball France actually get, and therefore how many opportunities France go get to hurt them. But the problem here be say you go never completely starve France of the ball, and if them do win am back, them fit launch lethal counterattacks against a side stationed high up the pitch. Mbappé pace simply no fit be managed, while Olise vision for a pass go always find gaps. This go create almost a game within the game, perhaps 10 opportunities for France to nick the ball and hit Spain on the counter.
