The 2026 World Cup Now Knows Its Top Four Teams
France, Spain, England, and Argentina have won their quarterfinal matches at the 2026 World Cup and will advance to the semifinals
By Antxon Pascual · 14 July 2026

The quarterfinals began with France’s comfortable victory over Morocco. Didier Deschamps’ team was far superior to the North African side, and the only reason the score wasn’t higher was thanks to Bono’s outstanding performance. The goalkeeper was the best player on the Moroccan team and kept the score tied until halftime. He even stopped a penalty kick by Mbappé. But in the second half, he couldn’t prevent goals from the Real Madrid forward and Dembélé.
The second match pitted Spain against Belgium. The defending champion was the clear favorite to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, especially with Tielemans’ injury during warm-ups. The truth is that the Belgians played at a very high level, scoring the only goal the Spanish team has conceded so far. But Courtois’s injury dealt a major blow to the Belgians, who watched as Mikel Merino prevented extra time by capitalizing on a mistake by goalkeeper Lammens.
On the final day, England and Argentina secured their spots. Both had to go into extra time against Norway and Switzerland, respectively. Both teams faced very tough matches, but in extra time, their stars stepped up when it mattered most. Bellingham secured England’s spot in the next round, while Julián Álvarez scored his first goal of the 2026 World Cup to keep the defending champions in the running to retain their title.
2026 World Cup Quarterfinal Results
- France 2-0 Morocco
- Spain 2-1 Belgium
- Norway 1-2 England
- Argentina 3-1 Switzerland
Rivalry-Filled Semifinals
Only four teams remain in the 2026 World Cup. One of them will win the world championship. Spain and England are seeking their second title, France is aiming for its third, while Argentina hopes to join the ranks of Germany and Italy with four titles. In less than a week, we’ll know the champion. The semifinals begin today with the match between France and Spain.
Spain and France face off in the first World Cup semifinal. It will be their third semifinal in three years. Spain has won the previous two: the 2024 Euro and last year’s Nations League. Now the French, who have played in the last two World Cup finals, want to prove why they’re considered the strongest team.
If there’s a rivalry between France and Spain, just imagine the one between England and Argentina. Since 1986, when Maradona decided the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Mexico, the rivalry between the two teams has been alive and well. However, the tension is limited to the purely sporting arena. The winner will receive a huge prize: a spot in the 2026 World Cup final. Only one team will make it.
2026 World Cup Semifinals
- France - Spain (July 14, 8:00 p.m.)
- England - Argentina (July 15, 8:00 p.m.)

