Guest Written by: Brandon Evans
And then there were four! We started off the 2026 World Cup with 48 nations all vying for the most prestigious trophy in this sport’s history, but after a month-long festival of soccer, only four remain. Now featuring a pair of semifinal matchups between the four absolute best teams in the world, we have two scintillating games steeped in rivalry and history, both within this sport and beyond it. But who will go through to the final and who will head to the third-place playoff?
Spain vs France
A repeat of both the 2025 Nations League Semifinal and the Euro 2024 Semifinal, it only seems fitting that we see this game yet again here at the World Cup Semifinals. In both instances, Spain came out on top, but can they make it three for three, or will France finally get a victory over the Spaniards?
What makes this semifinal even more interesting is that these are the two best teams in this tournament, both on paper and on the pitch. France has absolutely blown away their opposition, scoring 16 goals across six games. Even scarier is that Kylian Mbappé himself has eight of those goals, and has been in the form of his life, deciding games on his own.
On the flip side, though, Spain has returned to tradition, relying on their incredibly solid midfield to dominate possession, which has suffocated all their opponents, leaving them with few chances to score. As a result, Spain has only conceded one solitary goal this entire World Cup.
So, who will crack first? Can Spain nullify France by keeping their talented attackers off the ball, or will France’s unstoppable offense finally break down Spain’s defense?
England vs Argentina
While Spain and France know each other very well, England and Argentina have not played each other since 2005; friendlies have been avoided, partly due to an intense rivalry between the two nations that transcends soccer.
On the other side of the bracket, France and Spain have been nearly perfect; both England and Argentina have visible flaws, especially in their defense, as they tend to leak a few goals and have been pushed to the brink several times throughout this World Cup by much less favored teams. That said, both teams have endured these hardships, overcome adversity, and solidified their winning spirit. What defines both of these teams is their selection of star players who have shown up in the clutch. For England, it has been Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Still, for Argentina, it's none other than Lionel Messi, who is looking to snuff out any semblance of a GOAT debate by adding another World Cup after winning the last one sandwiched in between two Copa América trophies as well.
Possibly the most famous World Cup match in history was in 1986, when Diego Maradona’s pair of controversial and brilliant goals eliminated England. Messi is the heir apparent to Maradona in many ways, but can he repeat the feat of the late great legend, or will England finally get revenge 40 years later?
Who do you think is going to the Final, and who do you think can win it all? Visit your local Soccer Post and pick up a France, Spain, England, or Argentina jersey to support your team!
