Forty-eight teams entered the 2026 World Cup. After a month of action, just four remain.
The World Cup trophy beckons on the horizon for those sides, which boast some of the world’s finest talents. France’s Kylian Mbappe, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, England’s Jude Bellingham and Spain’s Lamine Yamal have all impressed at different points in this year’s tournament. They’ll look to lead their respective sides to glory over the next week, although they’ll have to get through each other to do so.
With that, here’s a look at the four sides left in this year’s competition.
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World Cup semifinal bracket 2026
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How many teams are left in the World Cup?
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Tues., July 14 | France vs. Spain | 3 p.m. | AT&T Stadium |
| Wed., July 15 | England vs. Argentina | 3 p.m. | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
France
France rolled past Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 before winning a grueling 1-0 battle against Paraguay on a 70th-minute penalty kick by Kylian Mbappe. It was France’s fourth consecutive quarterfinal appearance, and their 2-0 win over Morocco gave Les Blues their third consecutive trip to the semifinals. They will meet Spain.
Spain
Spain has allowed just one goal so far at the World Cup will be a tough out going forward. The Spaniards advanced to the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Portugal, sending Cristiano Ronaldo to the World Cup retirement home in the process. La Roja then secured a spot in the semifinals with a 2-1 win over Belgium. They will take on France
England
England is making its second semifinal appearance in the last three World Cups after narrow wins over DR Congo, Mexico and Norway. The Three Lions have a date with defending champion Argentina in the tournament’s final four.
Argentina
Argentina stayed alive by virtue of a furious comeback victory over Egypt. Lionel Messi scored one of the most important goals of his illustrious World Cup career to equalize a game his team once trailed 2-0 late in the second half. Argentina took down Switzerland in the quarterfinals and will now face England in the semifinals.
FIFA World Rankings for teams still in World Cup
France was the first team to punch its ticket to the semifinals, besting Morocco 2-0 in a dominant display. Spain and England followed suit, getting past Belgium and Norway, respectively. Argentina was the last side to stake its claim in the quarters, whisking Switzerland aside in extra time.
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | France |
| 2 | Argentina |
| 3 | Spain |
| 4 | England |