When were the World Cup 2026 Semi-finals?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals were played on July 14 and July 15, 2026. Spain beat France 2-0 on July 14 at AT&T Stadium, Dallas. Argentina beat England 2-1 on July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Spain and Argentina advanced to the World Cup Final on July 19; France and England played the Third-place play-off on July 18, which England won 6-4.

Where were the World Cup 2026 Semi-finals played?

Semi-final 1 (Spain 2-0 France) was played at AT&T Stadium, Dallas on July 14. Semi-final 2 (Argentina 2-1 England) was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta on July 15.

What happened in the World Cup 2026 third-place match?

The two Semi-final losers, France and England, played the Third-place play-off on July 18, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens. England won 6-4 — Bukayo Saka scored a hat-trick and Kylian Mbappé a brace in one of the tournament's highest-scoring games.

Who is in the World Cup 2026 Final?

Spain vs Argentina, on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.

World Cup 2026 Semi-finals — Results & Final Set

🏆 A Historic Semi-final Line-up

For the first time since FIFA rankings began in 1992, the top 4 ranked teams — France, Argentina, Spain and England — have all reached the World Cup semi-finals. It's also only the 3rd time in World Cup history that all four semifinalists were past champions, following 1970 (Brazil, Italy, Uruguay, West Germany) and 1990 (West Germany, Argentina, Italy, England) — a 36-year gap. Argentina bring 3 titles, France 2, Spain and England 1 each.

When are the World Cup 2026 Semi-finals?

The two Semi-finals are played on July 14 and July 15, 2026 — one match per evening, three days after the last Quarter-final on July 11.

How does the Semi-final work?

Four teams, two matches. Win → World Cup Final on July 19. Lose → Third-place play-off on July 18. If level after 90 minutes, extra time then penalties decide it.

Semi-final fixtures & result

Jul 14 · FT ✅ Spain 2-0 France

Semi-final 1 — 🇪🇸 Spain 2–0 🇫🇷 France

AT&T Stadium, Dallas · Oyarzabal pen (22') · Porro (58') · Spain reach the Final, France eliminated

Jul 15 · FT ✅ Argentina 2-1 England

Semi-final 2 — 🇦🇷 Argentina 2–1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta · Gordon (55') · Enzo Fernández (85') · Lautaro Martínez (90+2', assist Messi) · Argentina reach the Final, England eliminated

Match reports at FIFA.com.

Semi-final 1 report — Spain 2-0 France

Spain reached their second-ever World Cup Final (their first was 2010) with a controlled 2-0 win over France in Dallas. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute with a give-and-go move involving Dani Olmo. Kylian Mbappé was shackled all game — 3 shots, none on target, 34 touches — stuck on 8 Golden Boot goals. Ousmane Dembélé also blanked (46 touches, 2 shots on goal, no goal) and stayed on 5. France's title bid ended in the Semi-final — but both Mbappé (brace) and Dembélé (stoppage-time goal) bounced back in the Third-place match on July 18, a 6-4 loss to England, finishing on 10 (Golden Boot winner) and 6 respectively. Spain face Argentina in the Final on July 19.

Semi-final 2 report — Argentina 2-1 England

Argentina completed a stunning comeback to reach their first World Cup Final since winning the 2022 title, beating England 2-1 in Atlanta. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute, assisted by Morgan Rogers, and England held that lead into the final quarter-hour. But Enzo Fernández levelled with a long-range strike in the 85th minute, and Lautaro Martínez struck the winner in the second minute of stoppage time (90+2'), set up by Lionel Messi. Argentina dominated the game — 64% possession, 15 total attempts (5 on target) to England's 5 attempts (2 on target). It's Messi's last World Cup, and he now sets up Argentina's bid for back-to-back titles and a 4th star. England's title run ended in the Semi-final, but they bounced back to beat France 6-4 in the Third-place match on July 18 — a Bukayo Saka hat-trick — to finish 3rd.

What is the Third-place play-off?

The two Semi-final losers, France and England, played the Third-place match on July 18, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — the day before the Final. England won 6-4 in one of the tournament's highest-scoring games, a Bukayo Saka hat-trick and Jude Bellingham overturning a Kylian Mbappé-inspired France fightback. Full report: Third-place match →

How each Semi-finalist got here

🇫🇷

France Finished 4th

Beat Paraguay 1-0 in R16 — Mbappe pen 70min. Reached the Final in 2018 and 2022. Beat Morocco 2-0 in the QF on Jul 9 to reach Semi-final 1, but lost 2-0 to Spain on Jul 14 (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') — Mbappé and Dembélé were both held scoreless. France's title bid ended; they lost the Third-place match 6-4 to England on Jul 18 despite a Mbappé brace, which took him to 10 goals and the Golden Boot.

🇪🇸

Spain Finalists

Euro 2024 champions. Beat Belgium 2-1 in the QF on Jul 10, then beat France 2-0 in Semi-final 1 on Jul 14 (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') to reach their second-ever World Cup Final — their first was 2010. Face Argentina in the Final on Jul 19.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England Finished 3rd

Beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca in R16 (Bellingham brace). Survived a Norway scare in the QF on Jul 11 — Schjelderup put Norway ahead (36'), Bellingham equalised right before half-time (45+2') and struck the extra-time winner (93') to win 2-1 AET. Bellingham's brace took him to 6 goals at that point. Led Argentina 1-0 in Semi-final 2 (Gordon, 55') but lost 2-1 after Enzo Fernández (85') and Lautaro Martínez (90+2') turned it around. England's title bid ended, but they beat France 6-4 in the Third-place match on Jul 18 — a Bukayo Saka hat-trick, plus a late Bellingham goal that took him to 7, tied 3rd in the Golden Boot.

🇦🇷

Argentina Finalists

Defending champions. Beat Egypt 3-2 in R16, coming back from 0-2 down. Needed extra time again in the QF on Jul 11 — Mac Allister opened (10'), Switzerland's Ndoye equalised (67'), then Julián Álvarez (112') and Lautaro Martínez (120+1') scored in extra time to win 3-1. Messi (21 WC goals — all-time record) stays on 8, 2nd in the Golden Boot behind Mbappé's eventual 10. Came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Semi-final 2 on Jul 15 (Enzo Fernández 85', Lautaro Martínez 90+2' assisted by Messi) to reach their first Final since winning in 2022. Face Spain in the Final on Jul 19.

🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇳🇴 Norway & 🇨🇭 Switzerland eliminated in the Quarter-finals. 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇵🇹 Portugal & 🇺🇸 USA eliminated in the Round of 16. 🇫🇷 France (lost 2-0 to Spain, Jul 14) and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (lost 2-1 to Argentina, Jul 15) eliminated in the Semi-finals. 46 teams eliminated in total — only Spain and Argentina remain, meeting in the Final on Jul 19.

🥇 Golden Boot: Messi & Mbappé were tied on 8 after the Semi-finals — but Mbappé's brace in the Third-place match (Jul 18) took him to a final tally of 10, the outright lead. Messi has one match left, the Final, to catch him. Haaland & Bellingham tied 3rd on 7. Kane & Dembélé tied on 6. The Golden Ball remains open through the Final.

Full tracker →

Path to the Final — how the SF bracket played out

SF1 · Jul 14 (FT)

🇪🇸 Spain 2–0 🇫🇷 France — Oyarzabal pen (22'), Porro (58') · AT&T Stadium, Dallas

→

Spain to Final

SF2 · Jul 15 (FT)

🇦🇷 Argentina 2–1 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England — Gordon (55'), Enzo Fernández (85'), Lautaro Martínez (90+2') · Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

→

Argentina to Final

Final · Jul 19

🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇦🇷 Argentina · MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

🏆

SF losers France and England played the Third-place play-off Jul 18 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — England won 6-4.

Most dramatic World Cup Semi-finals in history

2014 Germany 7–1 Brazil — The Mineirão. Six goals in 29 first-half minutes. The most shocking result in World Cup history.

2022 France 2–0 Morocco — Morocco became the first African nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final. They fell to France but left with the world's respect.

2018 France 1–0 Belgium — Tactical masterclass. Umtiti's header the only goal. France went on to win the tournament.