England face Spain in World Cup final if they beat Argentina, France in third-place play-off if they lose

Thomas Tuchel’s England cannot be eliminated at the semi-final stage of the 2026 World Cup — whatever happens against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, the Three Lions have at least one fixture remaining before the tournament ends.

A win over Argentina would send England into Sunday’s World Cup final in New York, where Spain are already waiting. The European champions secured their place in the showpiece with a commanding 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday night, setting up a repeat of last summer’s Euro 2024 final.

Defeat against Argentina would not end England’s tournament but would redirect them into the third-place play-off, commonly known as the bronze final. Their opponents in that match would be France, who were beaten by Spain in Tuesday’s semi-final and now face the prospect of finishing fourth if they cannot recover against England.

Spain’s semi-final win was described as comfortable, with the European champions easing past France to confirm their place in the New York final. The identity of their opponents will be decided by the outcome of Wednesday’s England versus Argentina clash in Atlanta.