2026 World Cup Matchday Predictions – Semifinals

France is dreaming of its third consecutive World Cup final and wants to finally beat its nemesis, Spain, again. The Spaniards have come out on top against Les Bleus in two major semifinals in a row—2-1 at the 2024 European Championship and 5-4 in the 2025 Nations League semifinal in a wild goal-fest.

The French have marched into the semifinals with an impressive record. In their commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarterfinals, Kylian Mbappé (60') and Ousmane Dembélé (66') scored, while the Equipe Tricolore weathered a scare when Bono saved a Mbappé penalty in the first half. Throughout the tournament, Didier Deschamps’ team has looked significantly more mature than it did in Qatar 2022. Six wins in six games, plus the offensive firepower of Mbappé, Dembélé, Doué, and Olise. So far, France has been the most dominant team in this tournament in terms of play.

Spain has also been strong, albeit with the occasional slip-up. The European champions conceded their first goal against Belgium after 649 minutes without allowing a goal. Charles De Ketelaere scored against La Furia Roja in the 41st minute to tie the game temporarily. It wasn’t until the 88th minute that Mikel Merino put Spain into the semifinals with a 2-1 win. Merino has become the tournament’s “super sub”: the former Dortmund player had already scored the winning goal as a substitute against Portugal in the Round of 16. Spain itself has no major personnel concerns; Lamine Yamal remains the key player.

Prediction: France seems more consistent, stronger individually, and just a tad more mature in this tournament—and even though you can never underestimate Spain, it should be enough for Les Bleus this time around.

England is dreaming of its first World Cup final since 1966. As the defending champion, Argentina aims to pave the way to the final in New Jersey. And right in the middle of it all: Lionel Messi, who—in what is likely to be his final World Cup—will face England for the first time in his career.

The defending champions had to dig deep in their quarterfinal match against Switzerland. After an early header by Mac Allister (10th minute), the Swiss equalized through Ndoye (67th minute), before Embol’s dive left the Swiss a man down. In extra time, Julian Alvarez curled the ball into the corner without hesitation to make it 2–1 (112'), and Lautaro Martinez sealed the deal in stoppage time of extra time with the 3–1 goal (120+1).

England also battled through 120 minutes against Norway in Miami, where temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius. After Schjelderup gave Norway the lead (36'), Jude Bellingham saved the Three Lions with a controversial equalizer in stoppage time—the ball was said to have grazed a TV cable before the goal, a claim FIFA denied. In extra time, Bellingham capitalized on a Nyland blunder to score the decisive 2-1 goal (93'). The 23-year-old now has four tournament goals and is hitting top form in the knockout rounds of all places, serving as England’s second major weapon alongside captain and superstar Harry Kane.

Prediction: Argentina enters the match as a slight favorite, as a player of Messi’s caliber can still make the difference in games like this. It’s going to be an all-out battle: Both teams needed the full 120 minutes in the quarterfinals—why should it be any different this time?