World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals Set: England Face Argentina as Golden Boot Race Intensifies

England and Argentina Clash for a Place in the World Cup Final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached a dramatic climax, with the four highest-ranked nations in the world all advancing to the semi-finals for the first time in the tournament's history. England, guided by head coach Thomas Tuchel, will meet Argentina in one of two mouth-watering last-four ties, while France take on Spain in the other.

England's run has been built on late drama and individual brilliance. Jude Bellingham continued his rise as one of the tournament's standout performers, playing a starring role in the win over Norway that sent the Three Lions through to the semi-finals. Captain Harry Kane believes the squad still has another gear to find as they chase a first World Cup title since 1966.

Argentina, meanwhile, needed extra time to see off a resilient 10-man Switzerland side. Lionel Messi has been at the heart of their campaign, admitting he felt he had let his teammates down after missing a penalty against Egypt, only to help inspire a stirring 3-2 comeback that carried Argentina into the last eight.

The Golden Boot race has added another layer of drama to the tournament, with Kylian Mbappe, Messi and Erling Haaland separated by the finest of margins heading into the closing stages. Norway's Haaland could not prevent his side's elimination at the quarter-final stage, ending a historic run for the Norwegians, but he remains firmly in contention for the individual scoring prize.

Off the pitch, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has signalled that an expansion to a 64-team format could be explored once this tournament concludes, underlining how quickly the World Cup continues to evolve even as the current edition plays out. For now, though, attention turns to the semi-final between England and Argentina, a fixture rich with history and fresh needle after a tournament that has already delivered several instant classics.