FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals: Details to Know Before the Big Games

Pranali Naik

July 14, 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals take place on July 14 and 15 (local time), with France, Spain, England and Argentina advancing to the final four. For fans in India, the matches will be played on July 15 and 16 (IST).

France meet Spain in the first semifinal, while England face Argentina in the second. Both matches will decide which two teams move one step closer to the FIFA World Cup title.

This guide covers the full semifinal schedule, venues, match previews, ticket details and live streaming information. You’ll also find the key players to watch before the action begins.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals Schedule

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals feature two matches across two days. Each winner will secure a place in the World Cup final.

Key Players From FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals
Source: Live India

Check the complete schedule below, including match dates, kick-off times and venues

DateMatchTime (IST / GMT)BST TimeVenue
Wed, 15 JulyFrance vs Spain12:30 AM IST (Tue, 14 July – 7:00 PM GMT)Tue, 14 July – 8:00 PMDallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, Texas
Thu, 16 JulyEngland vs Argentina12:30 AM IST (Wed, 15 July – 7:00 PM GMT)Wed, 15 July – 8:00 PMAtlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals Venues

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals will take place at two of the biggest stadiums in the United States. Both venues have already hosted important knockout matches during the tournament.

Here are the key details of both the venues:

Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, Texas

Dallas Stadium will host the first semifinal between France and Spain. The venue features a retractable roof and one of the world’s largest video boards. FIFA has also installed a natural grass pitch for the tournament.

AT&T Stadium- FIFA World Cup Semifinal Match 1 Venue
Source: HKS Architects

The stadium can host more than 100,000 fans for major events. It has welcomed several international football matches over the years.

In 2023, the venue hosted the El Clásico friendly between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain already knows the conditions in Dallas. The team beat Portugal 1-0 here in the Round of 16. Returning to the same pitch could help Spain prepare for another big test against France.

Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta Stadium will host the second semifinal between England and Argentina. The venue features its famous retractable roof and a 360-degree Halo video board. Like Dallas, it uses a natural grass pitch for FIFA World Cup matches.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Source: Mercedes-Benz Website

The stadium welcomes more than 70,000 fans for football matches.

It is home to Atlanta United and has hosted several major football events. The opening match of the 2024 Copa América took place here, with Argentina beating Canada 2-0.

Now Argentina return to familiar surroundings for another big match. They defeated Egypt 3-2 here in the Round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals.

Playing at the same venue could help the defending champions settle quickly before facing England.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals Predicted XIs : All Four Teams

The four semifinalists have confirmed their predicted squads for the final stage of the tournament. Most teams enter the semifinals without any major changes.

Check the complete squads of France, Spain, England and Argentina below. You’ll also find the latest squad update before the semifinal matches.

France

Head Coach: Didier Deschamps

Goalkeepers: Brice Samba, Mike Maignan, Robin Risser

Defenders: Malo Gusto, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, Ibrahima Konaté, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix

Midfielders: Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni, N’Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche

Forwards: Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Jean-Philippe Mateta

Spain

Head Coach: Luis de la Fuente

Goalkeepers: David Raya, Joan García, Unai Simón

Defenders: Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella

Midfielders: Mikel Merino, Fabián Ruiz, Gavi, Rodri, Martín Zubimendi, Pedri, Álex Baena

Forwards: Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Víctor Muñoz, Borja Iglesias

England

Head Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford

Defenders: Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn, Reece James, Djed Spence, Jarell Quansah

Midfielders: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Eberechi Eze

Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney

Squad update:

Jordan Henderson will miss the rest of the tournament after undergoing surgery on a broken wrist. Elliot Anderson is expected to replace the experienced midfielder in England’s starting lineup.

Meanwhile, Jarell Quansah remains suspended for the semifinal after his red card against Mexico.

Ezri Konsa is expected to continue in defence. England also received a major boost, with Declan Rice declared fit after recovering from a brief illness.

Argentina

Head Coach: Lionel Scaloni

Goalkeepers: Juan Musso, Gerónimo Rulli, Emiliano Martínez

Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Valentín Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nico González, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández

Forwards: Julián Álvarez, Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, José Manuel López, Lautaro Martínez

Note:

France, Spain, and Argentina enter the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with unchanged squads. All players are fit and available for selection.

France vs Spain Match Preview

France and Spain meet in the first FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal after impressive knockout campaigns. Both teams now stand one win away from entering the final.

Have a look at how the teams secured their semi-final spots and who are the key players to watch in their semi-final clash:

How France and Spain Reached the Semifinals

France booked their semifinal place with a 2-0 win over Morocco in the quarterfinals. The victory made them the tournament’s highest-scoring team with 16 goals.

France vs Morocco in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals
Source: The Pioneer

Meanwhile, Spain secured their semifinal spot after beating Belgium 2-1. Their disciplined defence has allowed only seven shots on target across six matches.

Their different strengths set up an intriguing battle in Dallas. One team will test the best attack, while the other will rely on one of the tournament’s strongest defences.

Key Players to Watch

Kylian Mbappé remains France’s biggest attacking threat with eight tournament goals. His pace can trouble any defence.

Kylian Mbappé: Key player for France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals
Source: The Hindu

Meanwhile, Spain will once again rely on Rodri in midfield. His passing and control help Spain dictate the tempo.

Their battle will be one of the biggest talking points in Dallas. Mbappé will look to break through Spain’s defence, while Rodri will try to stop France’s attacks. The winner of that contest could help decide the semifinal winner.

England vs Argentina Match Preview

England and Argentina meet in the second semifinal to renew one of football’s greatest rivalries. Both teams have earned their place with hard-fought knockout victories.

Let’s look at how the teams secured their semifinal spots and the key players to watch in their semifinal clashes.

How England and Argentina Reached the Semifinals

England secured their semifinal place with a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in the quarterfinals. The victory kept their title hopes alive after another hard-fought performance.

England vs Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals
Source: Rediff

Meanwhile, Argentina booked their place with a 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland. The defending champions once again showed their quality when the pressure was highest.

Both teams now stand one win away from the World Cup final. England have fought through difficult knockout matches, while Argentina have relied on their experience. Another famous rivalry now returns to football’s biggest stage.

Key Players to Watch

Lionel Messi continues to lead Argentina with eight tournament goals. His creativity and finishing remain vital to Argentina’s attack.

Lionel Messi
Source: CCN

Meanwhile, England will once again rely on Jude Bellingham in midfield. Harry Kane’s experience also gives England another major advantage.

Their battle could shape the semifinal in Atlanta. If Messi controls the attack, Argentina will create chances. If Bellingham dominates midfield, England can move one step closer to the final.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals Tickets

Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals are available through FIFA’s official ticket platform and verified resale websites. Buy tickets only from trusted sellers to avoid scams and invalid entries.

Since demand remains extremely high, resale prices have increased for both semifinal matches. Here’s a quick look at the latest approximate ticket prices.

MatchApproximate Price (USD)Approximate Price (INR)*
France vs Spain$746–$3,000+₹64,000–₹2.58 lakh+
England vs Argentina$1,997–$4,000+₹1.72 lakh–₹3.44 lakh+

Note:

Ticket prices may change at any time based on demand and availability. Prices on resale platforms are often much higher than the original face value.

How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals Live

You can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals live through official broadcasters and streaming platforms across different regions.

The table below shows where you can watch the matches in India and around the world.

Country / RegionTV BroadcastLive Streaming
IndiaDD Sports (DD Free Dish), Unite8 Sports NetworkZEE5
United StatesFOX, FS1, Telemundo (Spanish)Fox One, Peacock, YouTube TV, Fubo
United KingdomBBC One, BBC Two, ITV1BBC iPlayer, ITVX
AustraliaSBSSBS On Demand
CanadaCTVTSN+
IrelandRTÉRTÉ Player
BrazilCazéTV (YouTube)
Selected European countriesVRT/RTBF (Belgium), NOS (Netherlands), TRT (Türkiye)VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio, NOS.nl

Note:

Broadcast partners may vary by country. Check your local broadcaster or streaming service for the latest coverage details before kickoff.

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Conclusion

The FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals bring together four of the tournament’s best teams. Only two places remain in the World Cup final.

France, Spain, England, and Argentina have earned their places through impressive quarterfinal performances. Every match now carries huge importance, with the winners advancing to football’s biggest stage.

Don’t miss either semifinal, as both matches promise top-quality football and unforgettable moments. Tune in live, support your favourite team, and watch who secures a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.

Pranali Naik

Hello, I’m Pranali Naik, an M.A in English and a professional SEO Content writer. As the voice behind Sports Chronicle, I transform fast-paced sports into engaging stories. I break down tactics, player profiles, and match strategies across global sports, bringing the drama of the game to life.

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