Day 35 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup bring the second semifinal, with England and Argentina meeting for a place for Sunday final. England ride on tournament scoring of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, while Argentina lean on Lionel Messi, wey eight goals tie for tournament lead. The winner go book date with Spain for July 19 final.
England win Group L unbeaten, then beat DR Congo 2-1 for round of 32, outlast Mexico 3-2 for round of 16, and need extra time to beat Norway 2-1 for quarterfinal on Jude Bellingham brace. Captain Harry Kane and Bellingham each get six goals, among tournament best.
Argentina sweep Group J, survive Cape Verde 3-2 for extra time, rally pass Egypt 3-2 for round of 16, and beat Switzerland 3-1 for extra time for quarterfinal, with Messi set World Cup all-time assists record along the way.
Bellingham and Messi lead England-Argentina rivalry next chapter. England-Argentina semifinal be so much more than just another match. England-Argentina be rivalry rooted for ghosts, thorns, and legends.
All World Cup matches dey air on FOX and FS1, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.
From another source: ARLINGTON, Texas — Cape Verde Blue Sharks bring joy and revelation. Mexico reintroduce the world to wonders of Azteca. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric make curtain calls. Brazil, Germany, and Uruguay totter and crash. Egypt leave furious and shattered. Morocco show 2022 no be fluke. Tip of cap to Curacao Blue Wave, Ivory Coast Elephants, and Panama Canaleros. Dutch fans dance left and right, Norwegians row into our hearts, and Scots drink Boston dry.
But as 2026 World Cup round into final days, starting with Tuesday semifinal for galactic stadium outside Dallas, a 48-nation tournament don narrow to four standard-bearers. Everyone else go watch with envy from home. Not since 1990 the final four feature nothing but previous champions, and for first time, the last four be the first four for FIFA rankings. Suffice to say for Texas, this ain’t their first rodeo.
Twenty-four hours later for Atlanta roofed palace, reigning champion Argentina go face English side determined to end 60-year wait. The survivors go meet Sunday for New Jersey MetLife Stadium.
Everyone be heavyweight, Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente say. If we dey talk about gap between teams, we dey evenly matched. All very tight. No decided underdogs to find, unlike 2022 Morocco, 2010 Uruguay, 2002 Turkey and South Korea, 1998 Croatia, and 1994 Bulgaria.
Tournament favorites when this jamboree open more than a month ago, France and Spain go clash for first time since last summer 5-4 ruckus, won by La Roja, for Nations League semifinals. Spain also win Euro 2024 semifinal meeting. They don be on this collision course since December.
We know this might be spectacular game, French coach Didier Deschamps say, wey go leave program after 14 years and four World Cups — uncommonly long tenure for national team boss. Pressed on whether he still believe Spain be favorite, Deschamps say, Yes. If you see wetin they do, they confirm they be favorite. He grin and add, I no want add extra pressure for de la Fuente, wey oversee Euro title two years ago.
Since losing to Spain last year, Les Bleus don go 15-1-1 and roar through six World Cup matches with 16-2 goal differential. No include Nations League shootout setback to Portugal last year, La Roja no lose across 36 matches over 28 months and no concede goal for first five World Cup games until Belgium nick one for quarterfinals. Les Bleus be third team for history to advance to three straight World Cup semifinals, following Germany and Brazil.
E go be great game for people for Spain and France, Spanish star Lamine Yamal say, wey celebrate 19th birthday Monday. Yamal ask about comments following quarterfinal victory over Belgium where he seem to suggest France go fear Spain. Yamal say im words be misinterpreted. He clarify Monday by saying he dey refer to European champions being unafraid of any challenge.
We be French national team, midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery say Monday. We no dey afraid of anybody. The match pit two of world most talented and popular players, France Kylian Mbappé and Yamal. One on one with unpredictable winger fit pose problems, Deschamps concede about Yamal, but we get many solutions. Zaire-Emery say Lamine get extraordinary qualities — he fit do anything — but e be collective sport.
Yamal get flashes of brilliance, but no be defining World Cup performance many anticipate. The big day from Lamine still to come, de la Fuente say. Hopefully tomorrow be the day. Deschamps say Mbappé be 100 percent after showing signs of injury during quarterfinal victory over Morocco. Mbappé 12 goals for knockout stages over three World Cups be record. Im eight goals this summer tie with Argentina Lionel Messi for Golden Boot award.
France-Spain winner go head to final as favorite, but trophy far from certain. For Atlanta, Argentina remain for contention to become first repeat champion since Pele Brazil for 1962. To get here, La Albiceleste survive massive scares from Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. This group don get people used to doing things wey no normal, Messi say. E no easy coming from being world champions, winning everything we get and continue to compete, stay for top level, be among four best, play for another semifinal. E no normal.
England display character and resolve for coming from behind to edge DR Congo, outlast Mexico for Azteca, and overturn deficit to oust Erling Haaland and Norway. We want to get over the line, star striker Harry Kane, on BBC Radio, say of English heartbreak spanning generations. That be the missing piece now.
First, though, come France vs. Spain and Mbappé vs. Yamal. Yamal spend part of im birthday with im 3-year-old half-brother, Keyne, wey expressions for Spanish matches don turn am to social media sensation. I dey relaxed for the game, Lamine say. Today I dey with my brother getting haircut. As for birthday present, Lamine say, My gift go be victory tomorrow and chance to go New York for final.
