2026 World Cup semi-finals: results at a glance
Spain and Argentina are through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Spain beat France 2–0 in the first semi-final, while Argentina recovered from a late deficit to defeat England 2–1 in the second.
The two matches reached the same destination by very different routes. Spain took the lead against France, added a second goal and protected another clean sheet. Argentina entered the closing minutes behind England, then scored twice after the 85th minute to turn the match around.
The timing of the goals explains why the semi-finals felt so different. Spain led from Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute penalty and doubled its advantage before the final third of the match. France never produced a reply, while Mbappé finished without a shot on target. Argentina, by contrast, spent most of the second half chasing England and did not equalize until the 85th minute. Martínez then completed the comeback with a stoppage-time header before extra time was needed.
- Spain 2–0 France: Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 22nd-minute penalty after Lamine Yamal drew a foul from Lucas Digne. Pedro Porro completed the scoring after combining with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute.
- Argentina 2–1 England: Anthony Gordon put England ahead in the 55th minute. Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th, and substitute Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in second-half stoppage time.
Spain’s victory was played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 14. Argentina’s comeback followed at Atlanta Stadium on July 15. Those results created a Spain–Argentina final and sent France and England to the third-place match.
How Spain beat France 2-0
Spain’s semi-final was decided by one breakthrough in each half. Oyarzabal scored the opener from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, and Porro made it 2–0 in the 58th. The individual moves behind the goals show how Spain created the two-goal result.
Yamal created the opening
The first goal began with Lamine Yamal challenging Lucas Digne inside the French penalty area. Digne kicked Yamal while attempting to deal with the ball, and Spain received the penalty that Oyarzabal converted. It was the first time either side had fallen behind during its seven matches at the tournament.
The opening goal forced France to chase the match. France had conceded only two goals across its first six tournament matches before falling behind Spain. Spain, meanwhile, could continue playing behind a structure that had already produced six clean sheets in seven matches.
Porro finished a direct combination
Spain’s second goal came from a give-and-go between Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo. Porro broke forward, Olmo returned the ball before being knocked down by Dayot Upamecano, and Porro finished the move in the 58th minute. The sequence gave Spain a two-goal cushion against a France team that had conceded only twice in its first six games.
Spain protected its lead with another clean sheet. The team had outscored its opponents 12–1 since opening the group stage with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. Against France, that balance appeared again: two goals at one end and another shutout at the other.
France’s attack never found the target
France entered the match with Kylian Mbappé leading its attack, but none of his three attempts finished on target. That detail helps explain why Spain’s clean sheet was more than a goalkeeper’s result. France could not turn its attacking play into a shot by Mbappé that tested the goal.
The defeat ended France’s attempt to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. Instead, France moved into the third-place match in Miami Gardens. Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning the competition in 2010.
Spain’s path through the semi-final was therefore orderly: Yamal won the penalty, Oyarzabal converted it, Porro doubled the advantage, and the defense protected the lead. There was no need for extra time or a late escape. Spain controlled the score from the 22nd minute onward.
How Argentina came back to beat England 2-1
The second semi-final followed the reverse scoring pattern: Argentina fell behind before winning. Argentina and England played a scoreless opening half, England took the lead after the interval, and Argentina did not equalize until the 85th minute. Five minutes from the end of regulation, England was still in front. By stoppage time, Argentina had taken the lead.
A physical, chance-poor first half
The opening 45 minutes produced no shots on target. The teams combined for 19 fouls and two yellow cards during the scoreless half. All three goals then arrived after the interval.
England broke through in the 55th minute. Morgan Rogers sent the ball across the face of goal, and Anthony Gordon converted to give England a 1–0 lead. For the next half hour, that single goal separated the teams.
England tried to protect the lead
As the match entered its closing phase, England shifted toward protecting the advantage. In the 82nd minute, Reece James was replaced by Dan Burn and Declan Rice made way for Nico O’Reilly. Those changes came one minute after Argentina introduced Lautaro Martínez for Nicolás Tagliafico.
Argentina’s substitutions preceded its two late goals. Messi moved with the ball on the right and found Enzo Fernández, who scored the equalizer in the 85th minute. England’s lead, maintained for half an hour, disappeared with five minutes of regulation time remaining.
Messi and Martínez completed the turnaround
Argentina scored again before extra time began. In the second minute of stoppage time, Messi crossed for Martínez, and the substitute scored with a close-range header. Martínez had entered only minutes earlier.
Messi assisted both of Argentina’s late goals. Those were his third and fourth assists of the tournament. Fernández supplied the equalizer; Martínez delivered the winner; Messi created both opportunities.
The final sequence turned a 1–0 deficit into a 2–1 victory after the 85th minute. It also sent the defending champion into another final, where Argentina will pursue a second consecutive title.
England led until Fernández equalized in the 85th minute, before Martínez’s stoppage-time winner eliminated England. Gordon’s 55th-minute opener was followed by Fernández’s equalizer and Martínez’s winner, with Messi assisting both Argentina goals.
What the semi-final results mean
The 2026 final is Spain against Argentina. It is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. Spain reaches the match after beating France 2–0. Argentina arrives after scoring twice after the 85th minute to beat England 2–1.
The semi-finals gave the finalists contrasting routes to the title match. Spain’s semi-final rested on an early advantage, a second-half insurance goal and a sixth clean sheet in seven matches. Argentina secured its place by scoring twice after the 85th minute. Messi assisted both late goals.
The losing teams still have one match remaining. France and England are scheduled to meet in the third-place game on Saturday, July 18, in Miami Gardens. France enters that match after losing 2–0 to Spain. England enters it after losing 2–1 to Argentina following two late goals.
The clearest takeaway
In short, Spain eliminated France by scoring twice and denying Mbappé a shot on target. Argentina eliminated England by overturning Gordon’s opener with late goals from Fernández and Martínez.
Spain advanced after taking the lead in the 22nd minute. Argentina advanced after Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez scored the stoppage-time winner. Spain and Argentina now meet for the trophy, while France and England play once more for third place.