England face Argentina in World Cup 2026 semi-final as France meet Spain in Atlanta showdown

England will face Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta, setting up one of international football’s most storied rivalries on the sport’s biggest stage. France and Spain contest the other semi-final in Arlington, Texas, with both ties kicking off at 8pm BST.

The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which also kicks off at 8pm BST on the Sunday. The two losing semi-finalists will contest a third-place play-off in Miami on the Saturday, again at 8pm BST.

The tournament opened at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium — a venue steeped in World Cup history. It was the site of Diego Maradona’s two most iconic moments against England at the 1986 World Cup, and has hosted two classic finals: Brazil’s 4-1 victory over Italy in 1970, capped by Carlos Alberto’s celebrated team goal, and Argentina’s 3-2 win over West Germany in 1986, settled by Jorge Burruchaga’s 84th-minute strike.

Across the tournament, Mexico and Canada have each hosted 13 matches, while the United States has staged 78. From the quarter-finals onwards, all remaining games have been played on US soil, with New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium serving as the venue for the showpiece final.