Sport ● Peak Trend score 96 · Published July 12, 2026 · Updated July 16, 2026

2026 World Cup Semi-Finals: France vs Spain and England vs Argentina

BOTH SEMIS DONE: Spain 2-0 France (14 Jul, Dallas; Oyarzabal pen. 22', Porro 58') and Argentina 2-1 England (15 Jul, Atlanta; Gordon 55', Enzo Fernández 85', Lautaro Martínez 90'+2'). Final: Argentina vs Spain, Jul 19, MetLife Stadium NJ. England vs France play for third place (Jul 18). Sources: FIFA, ESPN, Fox Sports.

By Alexandre Le Hégarat · datastats

INTEREST INDEX

96 +2% · 24h

2026 World Cup Semi-Finals: France vs Spain and England vs Argentina — Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata · CC BY-SA 4.0

30-DAY PEAK

99

modeled window

90-DAY AVG

69

stable

TREND SCORE

96

+2% · 24h

TRACKED QUESTIONS

9

from public queries

INTEREST OVER TIME

Momentum trajectory

PEAK 99

30d ago15dtoday

The context

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced its four semi-finalists after an extraordinary quarter-final round (July 9–12): France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Between them they hold nine World Cup titles and have produced some of the tournament’s greatest individual performances. Two matches, and then a final, will determine the champion.

France vs Spain (July 14, AT&T Stadium, Arlington/Dallas, RESULT: Spain 2-0 France): Spain were clinical and controlled. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled by Lucas Digne, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute after Upamecano fouled Dani Olmo. William Saliba’s injury in the 30th minute (replaced by Lacroix) disrupted France’s defensive structure. Kylian Mbappé, joint top scorer with 8 goals, was kept quiet by Porro throughout. Spain advance to the final with a perfect seven wins from seven. France are eliminated.

England vs Argentina (July 15, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, RESULT: Argentina 2-1 England): one of football’s most historically charged rivalries delivered again. Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute and they defended their lead into the closing stages, but Argentina turned the screw. Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th and Lautaro Martínez won it in stoppage time (90’+2’), both goals created by Lionel Messi, who at 38 was again decisive without adding to his 8-goal, 21-career-record tally. Argentina held 64% possession and shaded the expected goals 1.84 to 0.53. Jude Bellingham (4 tournament goals) and Harry Kane (6) fall short of the final.

The final is Argentina vs Spain on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, a first meeting between Messi and Spain’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. England and France meet in the third-place play-off on July 18 in Miami. Sources: FIFA, ESPN, NBC Sports.

People also ask

9 questions · sorted by search share

Semi-final 1 (July 14): Spain 2-0 France, AT&T Stadium, Arlington/Dallas. Goals: Oyarzabal penalty 22' (Yamal fouled by Digne) and Porro 58' (Upamecano fouled Olmo). Saliba went off injured (30'). Semi-final 2 (July 15): Argentina 2-1 England, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Anthony Gordon put England ahead (55'), then Enzo Fernández (85') and Lautaro Martínez (90'+2') completed the comeback, both set up by Messi. The final is Argentina vs Spain on July 19. Source: FIFA.

France, Spain, England, and Argentina. France beat Morocco 2-0 (Jul 9, MetLife Stadium); Spain beat Belgium 2-1 (Jul 10, SoFi Stadium); England beat Norway 2-1 AET (Jul 11, Miami, Bellingham ×2); Argentina beat Switzerland 2-1 AET (Jul 12, Kansas City, J. Álvarez 112'). All four nations have previously won the World Cup.

The final is Argentina vs Spain (July 19). Argentina (defending champions, Messi 8 WC goals and a 21 career-WC record) reached it with another late comeback, 2-1 over England. Spain are unbeaten through the tournament, beating France 2-0 in the semi. Bookmakers rate the final close to even, with Argentina marginal favourites on Messi's form and knockout pedigree. France and England were eliminated at the semi-final stage. Sources: ESPN, Fox Sports.

Yes. France's last WC meeting with Spain was the 2006 Round of 16, where France won 3-1 in Stuttgart (goals from Ribéry, Zidane penalty, and Vieira). France previously lost to Spain in the 1978 group stage (2-1). France lead the all-time WC head-to-head 1-1 before 2026.

The final is July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium (also called Meadowlands Stadium for the tournament), East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. It is the largest stadium used at this World Cup with approximately 82,500 capacity. Source: FIFA.

The final is Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3pm ET (9pm CEST / 8pm BST) at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Golden Ball (best player), Golden Boot (top scorer), and Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) are presented after the match. Source: FIFA.

France have won the World Cup twice: 1998 (at home, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final, Zidane brace) and 2018 (Moscow, beating Croatia 4-2). They were runners-up in 2006 (lost to Italy on penalties) and 2022 (lost to Argentina 2-4 on penalties after 3-3 AET, Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the loss). Sources: FIFA.

Spain have won the FIFA World Cup once: in 2010 in South Africa, beating Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in Johannesburg (Iniesta 116'). It remains Spain's only World Cup title. They previously won the UEFA European Championship in 1964, 1984, 2008, 2012, and 2024 (a record). Sources: FIFA.

In the USA: Fox Sports / Telemundo (Spanish). UK: BBC or ITV (both free-to-air). France: TF1 or M6 (free-to-air). Germany: ARD or ZDF (free-to-air) / MagentaTV. Spain: RTVE / Movistar+. Exact channel assignments per match are confirmed closer to the date by each broadcaster. Source: FIFA rights-holder announcements.

INTEREST BY REGION

Where it's trending

India

100

United States

83

United Kingdom

46

France

46

Germany

42

Brazil

21

Canada

18

Japan

17

Sources

fifa.com

espn

fox_sports

nbcsports

sky_sports

Public-source data, structured and editorially reviewed.