Argentina's Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scored deep in extra time to secure a dramatic 3-1 quarter-final win over 10-man Switzerland on Saturday and set up a heavyweight last-four clash against England in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi's Argentina side kept alive their bid to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962 with a victory that sparked pandemonium among the sea of sky-blue-and-white supporters and ended Switzerland's fairytale run.
The Swiss had reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, but fell one match short of an unprecedented semi-final appearance, suffering a major blow when Breel Embolo was sent off for diving in the 72nd minute.
With Argentina's victory, the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal lineup is officially set, showcasing a powerhouse elite as the top four FIFA-ranked nations in the world collide. Defending champions Argentina, France, Spain, and England secured their spots after a dramatic quarterfinal round, setting up two spectacular cross-continental blockbusters.
The winners of the semifinals will advance to the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
France vs. Spain
Date: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Texas
The Outlook: France reached their third consecutive semifinal by defeating Morocco 2-0, propelled by Ousmane Dembélé and tournament joint-top scorer Kylian Mbappé. They square off against a formidable Spain squad that outlasted Belgium 2-1, marking La Roja's first semifinal appearance since their legendary 2010 title run.
England vs. Argentina
Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Georgia
The Outlook: England showed tremendous resilience to edge past Norway 2-1 in extra time, courtesy of a clutch brace from Jude Bellingham. Their reward is a historic, highly anticipated renewal of their classic World Cup rivalry against Argentina. The South American giants overcame Switzerland 3-1 in a grueling extra-time battle, led by Lionel Messi, who remains tied with Mbappé at eight tournament goals.