BY KINGSLEY EMMANUEL
Four giants, nine titles between them, battle for a place in the final
USA— The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals enters its final day as four football giants prepare for defining battles in the race for global glory.
Spain will face France in the first semi-final on Tuesday, July 14, before defending champions Argentina take on England in a blockbuster showdown on Wednesday, July 15.
Spain vs France: Attack vs DefenceSpain head into the clash having won all three of their knockout matches: 3-0 vs Austria, 1-0 vs Portugal, and 2-1 vs Belgium.
Luis de la Fuente’s side have scored 6 goals and conceded just 1 in the knockout rounds.France have been equally formidable. Les Bleus beat Sweden 3-0, Paraguay 1-0, and Morocco 2-0.
Didier Deschamps’ men have scored 6 goals and are the only team yet to concede since the Round of 32.
Argentina vs England:
History RewrittenThe second semi-final rekindles one of football’s greatest rivalries. Argentina and England have met 6 times at the World Cup, with Argentina winning 3, England 2, and 1 draw.
Argentina have been the tournament’s highest scorers in the knockouts with 9 goals — 3-2 vs Cape Verde, 3-2 vs Egypt, and 3-1 vs Switzerland. They chase a second consecutive World Cup title.England have shown resilience, beating DR Congo 2-1, Mexico 3-2, and Norway 2-1. The Three Lions have scored 7 and conceded 4 so far.
By the numbers
Between them, the four semi-finalists have won 9 World Cup titles:
Argentina 3, France 2, England 1, Spain 1.
All four have also reached at least one World Cup final in the modern era.Who will book a place in the final? The world watches.
