Meet the giants competing in the semi-finals and their stars at the 2026 World Cup By Jeronimo Santos
4 min read
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The quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup ended in style, with England and Argentina securing their places in the competition’s top four after overcoming Norway and Switzerland, respectively.
In the English team, Jude Bellingham emerged as the central figure. The young 23-year-old midfielder reaffirmed his status as one of the most complete athletes on the current scene, performing masterfully in different areas of the pitch and sealing the victory against Erling Haaland’s Norway with two goals.
In turn, the Argentine team had its greatest moment of inspiration in Julián Álvarez. The center forward secured his place with a spectacular goal in extra time, in a clash that also had its share of controversy due to a decision by the video referee.
After the quarterfinals are complete, the semifinal matchups are ready. With a brief break in games until next Tuesday, July 14th, the time is ideal to analyze the four teams that are still in contention for the trophy.
The teams competing for the coveted places in the final
England’s journey towards the semi-final is marked by the outstanding performance of their attacking duo, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Both players scored six goals each in the 2026 World Cup, proving crucial to the English team’s stay in the competition and avoiding early exits.
Despite some tactical challenges faced by the team, notably in the defensive sector, which demonstrated weaknesses on several occasions, the individual genius of these two stars has been the difference. Kane stands out as an impeccable finisher.
Bellingham, on the other hand, combines technical excellence, physical vigor and a strong personality, qualities that have solidified England as a formidable and challenging opponent to beat in this edition of the World Cup.
In their attempt to win their second world title, the first since 1966, the pressure on the team’s highlights is considerable. The English team’s last appearance in a World Cup semi-final took place in 2018, when they were beaten by Croatia.
On the opposite side of the confrontation, Argentina followed a similar trajectory. The team, which is the current 2022 world champion, also relied on decisive individual performances to progress in the knockout stages, avoiding elimination on more than one occasion.
As expected, Lionel Messi resumed his role as protagonist in crucial moments. However, at this stage, the brightest spot was Julián Álvarez, responsible for the goal that guaranteed progress to the stage in extra time.
Similar to England, Argentina may not have played eye-catching football, but they demonstrated a great ability to compete and triumph, even without being at their peak — a vital attribute in short-term competitions. Despite this, the Argentines boast the most powerful attack of the tournament, with a total of 17 goals.
The vast experience of Lionel Scaloni’s team is also an asset. Most of the group that won the world title in 2022 know how to manage the intensity and pressure of high-stakes matches. Given this scenario, the expectation is for an electrifying clash between England and Argentina, scheduled for next Wednesday, July 15th.
The other semi-final bracket will feature a clash between France and Spain, a duel that promises to be a football spectacle, bringing together two of the teams with the greatest individual and collective talent in the championship.
Considered by several analysts as the big favorite for the title, the French team advanced to the semifinals with relative ease. While other powers faced difficulties in moving forward, the French consolidated a robust trajectory, driven by a very high quality front line.
Kylian Mbappé once again proved crucial, using his speed and finishing ability. Alongside him, players like Ousmane Dembélé and other offensive talents transform the French team into one of the most significant threats in the World Cup.
This edition of the tournament also represents the end of the Didier Deschamps era at the helm of the French national team. The coach, who led the team to the world title in 2018, aims to crown his farewell with another achievement.
The challenge of stopping this French ambition will fall to Spain. The Spanish team, which was also considered the favorite, confirmed its presence in the semifinals, but so far has not demonstrated its best performance on the field.
Most of the expectations fall on the promising Lamine Yamal. The young talent, however, has not yet managed to demonstrate his full potential, which may be related to physical issues that affected him before the start of the World Cup.
On the other hand, the Spanish midfield and defensive line maintain a remarkable consistency: the team allowed just one goal during the entire World Cup, a feat that will be severely tested against the powerful French offensive sector.
Despite France starting the duel with slight favoritism, the recent history of clashes lean towards Spain. The Spanish overcame the French in the semi-finals of the 2024 Euro Cup, in a campaign that earned them the continental title, and also emerged victorious in a clash for the Nations League the previous year.
The team that manages to qualify for the final decision, scheduled for July 19th, will probably become the main candidate for the cup. All signs point to semi-finals that will provide two very high-level football spectacles.
