The 2026 FIFA World Cup is down to the last two matches, with Spain and Argentina set to meet in the Final.
Making a World Cup semifinal, by definition, is a rare feat for any team. Still, France and England will be left disappointed following their exits at the last hurdle.
Questions are still being asked about what happened to the French team against Spain…
Favourites throughout the World Cup and expected to advance to the Final, they looked anything but themselves as Spain dominated on their way to a 2-0 win. Spain controlled the tempo against the rapid French, recorded another clean sheet, and completed the upset to reach the final.
England, on the other hand, rolled over after building their 1-0 lead.
England had just 12% possession in the 37 minutes between Gordon's opener and Lautaro's winner 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UM9GTlpYMa
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 15, 2026
If any team knows how to break down a low block, it’s Argentina. If any player knows how to break down a low block, it’s Lionel Messi. He’s seen it throughout his career and broken a few down already in this World Cup. Still, England sat back and invited pressure in an attempt to hold onto their lead for 30 minutes, only for the inevitable to happen.
As one went in, you could feel the second coming, and it wasn’t long before Messi and Argentina booked their spot in a second consecutive World Cup Final.
World Cup Final
While Argentina were here and did it all four years ago, this marks Spain’s first World Cup Final since 2010.
Argentina have made it this far behind a Golden Ball-contending tournament from Lionel Messi, a strong enough defence and an attack that only grows legs the longer the game goes. However, Spain does it all better.
Lamine Yamal has been hampered by a hamstring injury, and while he isn’t Messi, he became the headline act in the semifinal and is coming good at the right time of the tournament. Yamal might not have the counting stats, but his influence on matches has been clear enough for him to be the favourite to win the Young Player of the Tournament.
Young Player Award: Lamine Yamal – $1.36, Pau Cubarsi – $2.70, Johan Manzambi – $51, Ayyoub Bouaddi – $51
He will have played in a European Championship final and a World Cup Final before the age of 20 when this one kicks off.
“There are much harder things in life than a football match. It’s a game, I know what I’m capable of and I’m not worried about anything.”
Spain has made a habit of winning games late, too. They’re patient and have the quality to strike when the opposition switches off. Rodri is arguably the best midfielder in the world at the moment. He controls the tempo, breaks up opposition attacks and gets the ball around the field with incredible accuracy. History shows the teams with the best midfielders often win big tournaments. His battle with Messi will go a long way to deciding things.
If Spain’s impressive win over France did anything, it served as a reminder that Spain is the best team in the world at moving the ball around the field. They played with more possession, made more passes and recorded just as many shots as France. They’ve done it all tournament and done so while playing with the best defensive record.
Spain’s xG against at this WC
Cape Verde: 0.2
Saudi Arabia: 0.14
Uruguay: 0.2
Austria: 0.32
Portugal: 0.63
Belgium: 0.34
France: 0.31🔒
— David Wall (@1DavidWall) July 14, 2026
Argentina, on the other hand, hasn’t kept a clean sheet in their last five matches. They aren’t the strongest defensively and do provide the opposition with opportunities.
Messi will do Messi things. He’s a wizard, and so long as he is on the field, Argentina can make something out of nothing. No lead is safe against this group. Enzo Fernandez scored a beauty to put Argentina in front and added another argument to their ability to strike at any moment.
Spain are filled with confidence following their win over France, and it comes after winning the UEFA Nations League in 2023, reaching the final in 2025, and winning the Euros in between. They have the players, the form and an extra day’s rest ahead of the final and deserve to be favourites at $2.35.
Third Place Playoff
France played like the most complete side in the World Cup until Spain shut them down and pulled them to pieces in the semifinal. They topped the group after beating Senegal, Iraq and Norway with relative ease before casting aside Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco. With sixteen goals scored and only two conceded before their date with Spain, the expectation was for another World Cup Final.
They’ll now be playing for third…
Meanwhile, England has already tied their record for World Cup wins with five. A win over France in this one would mean something, but nothing at the same time. In contrast to their time under Gareth Southgate, England have been entertainers. They’ve scored fourteen goals, but the eight conceded meant most games went down to the end.
3 v 4 – This will be the first time that two teams ranked in the top five of FIFA's world rankings will face in a third place play-off match:
🇫🇷 France, 3rd
🏴 England, 4thGlamour. #AskOpta https://t.co/uK6FPOoSMp
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 16, 2026
It’s a game that will carry little motivation for either team in the end. Both expected to be playing in the final if not lifting the trophy. England manager Thomas Tuchel spoke on behalf of both squads about their approach to this match:
“None of our players and none of the French players want to play this match. They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve that. Everyone plays to win the World Cup, but that’s how it is. We have one less day of recovery than France, but we will do it with professionalism.”
Without any confirmation on who will run out, France are safe favourites at $1.90. They’re the deeper team, and should Kylian Mbappé start, he will be gunning for the Golden Boot. He’s looking to become the first two-time winner and first back-to-back winner of the award in World Cup history.
Golden Boot: Lionel Messi – $1.45. Kylian Mbappé – $2.50, Harry Kane – $67
He will need more out of his team after France didn’t manage a shot on target until the 81st minute against Spain. Still, third-place playoffs are often open and high-scoring contests. It’s somewhat fitting that two of the sharpest attacks and a live Golden Boot race have ended up here.