Argentina and England booked the final two spots in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after overcoming Switzerland and Norway in the last quarter-final matches, setting up two heavyweight clashes in the tournament’s final four.
Defending champions Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 in an impressive display to keep their title defence alive. The reigning world champions will now take on England in one of the most anticipated semi-finals of the tournament.
England secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Norway, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals to send the Three Lions into the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in their history. Norway’s only goal came in the 36th minute, but it was not enough to prevent England from advancing.
England previously reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in 1966, when they went on to lift the trophy, as well as in 1990 and 2018. The team will now be aiming to reach its first World Cup final since its historic triumph on home soil six decades ago.
Despite the defeat, Norway enjoyed a memorable campaign. It was the nation’s first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance and its first qualification for the tournament in 28 years, marking a significant milestone for the Scandinavian side.
The other semi-final will see European heavyweights Spain take on France, completing a star-studded last-four lineup featuring four of international football’s most successful nations.
With Argentina, England, Spain, and France all chasing World Cup glory, fans can expect two high-intensity semi-final encounters as the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title enters its decisive stage.