The 2026 FIFA World Cup has advanced to the last four, with France and Spain opening the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday, with Argentina set to take on England in Atlanta the following day.
The first leg of the semi-finals will see France’s prolific attack face off against Spain’s formidable defense, while the second leg will see the return of one of the World Cup’s most historic rivalries.
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Off the pitch, Norway’s players received a heroic welcome in Oslo, Erling Haaland’s unusual raccoon souvenir made headlines, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said a proposal to expand the 2030 tournament to 64 teams would be considered.
Here’s what you need to know about the World Cup semi-finals.
What is the schedule for the first semi-final match?
France vs. Spain, Tuesday, July 14th (19:00 Japan time) – Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Which team made it to the semifinals?
The teams competing to advance to the World Cup finals are:
France (beat Morocco 2-0) Spain (beat Belgium 2-1) England (beat Norway 2-1) Argentina (beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time)
What are your predictions for France vs Spain?
Both teams have reached the final four with contrasting styles, with Spain relying on outstanding defensive performance and France focusing on one of the most dangerous attacks in the tournament. Spain have a disciplined defensive unit led by Aymeric Laporte, Unai Simon and Rodri, who have managed just seven shots on target in six games.
On the other hand, France scored 16 goals, recording the highest offensive power of any team in this tournament. Kylian Mbappe continued his exceptional form at the World Cup with eight goals, while Ousmane Dembele and Michael Oliseh added creativity and quality in the final third. The semi-final in Dallas will be a battle between Spain’s defense and France’s attack, with the winner potentially taking a big step towards winning the trophy.
As of Sunday, Opta’s supercomputer gave France a 42.1% chance of winning in regulation time, while Spain had a 31.8% chance of winning. This model estimates a 26.1% chance that a game will go into overtime.
What else is going on?
Argentina vs England rivalry reignited
Defending champions Argentina will face England in the second semi-final of the World Cup on Wednesday, rekindling one of soccer’s fiercest and most historic rivalries.
Matches between the two countries at the World Cup are rarely without controversy and unforgettable moments. From Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986 to David Beckham’s red card for kicking Diego Simeone in 1998, Argentina vs England has produced some of the tournament’s most dramatic chapters.
Twenty-four years after their last World Cup meeting, both teams will return to the biggest stage to write a new chapter in their storied rivalry.
The match will be the first World Cup match between Argentina icon Lionel Messi and England’s current generation of stars, including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Atlanta police said they would “enhance” the “citywide security and public safety posture” ahead of the game.
The winners of the semi-finals will advance to Sunday’s final, where they will face either France or Spain for the chance to lift the World Cup trophy and become world champions again.
Norway’s heroic return home
More than 100,000 fans flooded the streets of Norway’s capital Oslo, hailing the soccer team as heroes and turning the heartbreaking loss of the World Cup into a massive national celebration.
Translation: Norway went wild! After the World Cup, 90,000 people welcomed the national team. The Prince of Norway played the drums, and the whole town did the “Norwegian row.” Impressive.
Harland’s strange raccoon souvenir
Erling Haaland has returned to Norway after a World Cup campaign that cemented his status as one of the tournament’s biggest stars. But he did not go home alone.
After Norway were eliminated by England in the quarter-finals, the striker arrived in Oslo on Saturday, July 11, with an unexpected travel companion: a stuffed raccoon.
Photos and videos of Haaland stepping off the plane holding the stuffed animal quickly spread on social media, making the rare souvenir one of the most talked about off-field moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Haaland got in on the joke, later writing to X: “Follow me home,” along with a raccoon emoji and a laughing face.
The 25-year-old also asked his fans to help him name his new pal through a poll on his Instagram Stories. Options included “Cowboy,” “Ranger,” “TEX,” and “ROW (Raccoon on Wheels).” It’s a playful rendition of the Norwegian rowing extravaganza that became one of the team’s defining traditions during a memorable World Cup.
Could the World Cup be expanded?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organization will consider the possibility of expanding the Men’s World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament.
In an interview with Swiss news outlet Brewin, Infantino said FIFA’s relevant committees would consider the proposal after the 2026 tournament.
The comments came as FIFA oversees the first 48-team World Cup, after the tournament expanded from the 32-team format used in each competition from 1998 to 2022.
“Teams from every continent scored a goal and scored at least one point,” Infantino said. “Nine out of 10 African teams made it to the finals. In the last World Cup, there were only five teams from Africa. This shows how important it is to include all teams and give them the opportunity to participate.”
Asked whether the World Cup could eventually expand to 64 teams, Infantino said the idea “will be considered and discussed” by FIFA.
He argued that the tournament should represent the whole world, not just traditional soccer powerhouses, and said more participants could help countries develop.
“If you don’t give small countries a chance to participate in the World Cup, they lose the incentive to keep growing,” he says.
qatar infantino
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to express his condolences following the death of the Emir’s father, the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, at Lusail Palace.
He plans to return to the United States within the next 24 hours. The Gulf country became the first Middle East to host the 2022 World Cup.
