FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals: All you need to know
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The grand finale is set to take place on July 19 (BST).
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup has three different host nations. The matches are taking place in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
A total of 1,248 players from 48 nations were on the path to battle for the prestigious trophy. Now only four teams remain. The most deserving will take the World Cup crown.
Debutant nation Cabo Verde stood out the most with their performances in the group stage. Then we witnessed their hard-fought battle against the defending champions, Argentina, in the round of 32. The Blue Sharks pushed Lionel Messi and company to the limits, but in the end their efforts were not enough.
With the remaining fixtures left, there will be no shortage of entertainment. All of these games are going to be of high intensity. It will be interesting to see which nation goes on to reach the pinnacle of world football.
Also Read: France vs Spain – Top five encounters between the two European giants ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinalists
Countries qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals are France, England, Spain and Argentina. All of these are top-four favourites to win the mega competition this year.
The matches between these nations will be played on July 14 and July 15, respectively (both in BST). The winning teams will secure a spot in the grand finale. The losing teams will fight for third place.
France
Les Bleus are the top favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026. With a star-studded lineup, they don’t have a shortage of talent in their squad. The France national football team have won all of their games in the mega competition this year.
They took down Morocco in the quarterfinals. They will go up against the Spaniards in the semifinals. This is going to be their third successive semifinal at the grandest stage of them all.
Spain
La Roja started their World Cup 2026 campaign with a draw against Cape Verde. After that, they have won all of their games. Their defensive record has been phenomenal.
The Spain national football team have only conceded one goal in the flagship tournament this year. Against an attack-heavy France, their performance in the backline will matter the most. La Roja have qualified for their second-ever World Cup semifinal.
England
This will be the fourth time ever that the Three Lions have reached the FIFA World Cup semifinals. Their last appearance in the last four was in 2018. The England national football team surely consist of strong players in the squad, but their tactics have not been very effective.
Thomas Tuchel will have no margin for error. He has a capable squad this time around. Against the defending champions, Argentina, it will be a stern test.
Argentina
La Albiceleste won the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and are defending their crown this year. They have made strong comebacks in the knockout stages this year. This is the second successive World Cup semi-final for the Argentina national football team.
With talents like Lionel Messi, they are likely to have a slight edge against the Englishman. But it will be the toughest encounter for them in this year’s mega competition so far.
Venues for FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals
The France vs Spain semifinal is all set to take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States.
The England vs Argentina semifinal will be witnessed at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
Fixtures
Tuesday, 14 July, 2026
Match 101: France vs Spain | 07:00 PM (GMT) | 03:00 PM (EST) | 12:30 AM (IST) on 15/07/2026 | AT&T Stadium
Wednesday, 15 July, 2026
Match 102: England vs Argentina | 07:00 PM (GMT) | 03:00 PM (EST) | 12:30 AM (IST) on 16/07/2026 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FIFA World Cup 2026 Telecast
The World Cup 2026 will be broadcast in India on Zee Entertainment’s newly launched Unite8Sports channels on TV, with live streaming available on Zee5.
To watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 for free in India, Doordarshan’s DD Sports channel will broadcast both the semifinal games for free.
In the UK, the matches will be broadcast live on the BBC and ITV. FOX Sports will telecast the World Cup games in the USA, and DStv will show matches live in Nigeria.
Where and how to watch live streaming of FIFA World Cup 2026 in India?
Fans can tune into the Zee5 app and website to view the live streaming of all games.
Where and how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 for free in India?
Doordarshan’s DD Sports channel will broadcast all the quarterfinal games for free.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.