World Cup 2026 Semifinal Bracket: France vs Spain, England vs Argentina
World Cup 2026 semis: France vs Spain (Dallas 2 p.m. CDT) & England vs Argentina (Atlanta 3 p.m. EDT), plus MetLife final — FIFA local times.
The World Cup field is down to four. France, Spain, England, and defending champion Argentina are the last teams standing after a bruising quarterfinal round across the United States.
France draws Spain in Dallas. England draws Argentina in Atlanta. The winners meet in the final at MetLife Stadium. The losers still have a bronze-medal night in Miami. Here is the redesigned semifinal bracket, the stadium-local kickoff times from FIFA, and how each side got here.
World Cup 2026 semifinal bracket
Three UEFA sides and one CONMEBOL champion make up the final four. France, Spain, and England carry Europe’s hopes. Argentina is the last South American team left — and the only side still chasing a title defense.
Win the France–Spain semi and you wait for the England–Argentina winner. Lose, and Miami still offers a podium finish.
Kickoff times — stadium local timezone (FIFA)
FIFA’s knockout list is published in Eastern Time. The times below are converted to each stadium’s local clock — Central for Dallas, Eastern for Atlanta, Miami, and New York–New Jersey.
| Match | Fixture | Local kickoff | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 · 101 | France vs Spain | Tuesday, July 14 · 2:00 p.m. CDT | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium, Arlington) |
| Semi-final 2 · 102 | England vs Argentina | Wednesday, July 15 · 3:00 p.m. EDT | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) |
| Third place · 103 | SF losers | Saturday, July 18 · 5:00 p.m. EDT | Miami Stadium |
| Final · 104 | SF winners | Sunday, July 19 · 3:00 p.m. EDT | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife) |
CDT = Central Daylight Time (UTC-5). EDT = Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4). FIFA lists 15:00 ET for both semis; Dallas local is therefore 2:00 p.m. CDT, Atlanta local stays 3:00 p.m. EDT.
How Argentina reached the final four
Argentina keeps finding a way. In the round of 16, Lionel Messi’s side trailed Egypt by two goals and still won 3-2. In the quarterfinals, Switzerland refused to go quietly.
Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead in the 10th minute. Dan Ndoye leveled in the 67th. Extra time settled it: Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez finished the job for a 3-1 win. The champions are still standing — and now they get England.
England’s road through Norway
England needed character too. Andreas Schjelderup put Norway in front before Jude Bellingham took over. The Real Madrid midfielder scored twice — once deep in first-half stoppage time, once late — to drag England through 2-1 after extra time.
That sends the Three Lions into a semifinal that already feels historic. England has lived on the edge of a World Cup final for years. Argentina still plays like a team that expects to be there on the last Sunday.
France vs Spain: the early final?
The first semi is a heavyweight European collision. France beat Morocco 2-0 with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Spain edged Belgium 2-1, Mikel Merino striking in the 88th minute to book their place.
France brings deep knockout experience. Spain brings control, depth, and the habit of breaking games late. Whoever snaps the other’s rhythm without giving up the counter will be one night from MetLife. Plenty of people already call this the early final — and the tape so far does not argue.
What each semifinal is really about
France–Spain is structure against structure: pressing triggers, build-up patience, and who wins the first transition. England–Argentina is about moments — set pieces, the first punch, and which dressing room handles the noise better when the game stretches.
The winners meet on July 19 in New Jersey. The losers still have July 18 in Miami. Four teams. Two nights. One trophy left.
Final date
The World Cup final is set for Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EDT at New York New Jersey Stadium. The bronze match is the night before in Miami.
Schedule source: FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage match schedule. Bracket graphic redesigned by JournalArta Sports Desk. This article is independent of earlier JournalArta semifinal schedule posts.
