World Cup 2026 semifinals: Spain and Argentina reach the final

France reached Match 101 through a clean knockout route, but the semifinal ended their title path. Spain's 2-0 win now sends France to the third-place match, where the practical questions become fitness, rotation and how quickly the squad can reset after missing the final.

Spain's route has been quieter but not easier. Beating Portugal 1-0, Belgium 2-1 and France 2-0 tells you Spain can live in narrow knockout margins and still control the biggest stages. They now get the longer final-week runway before facing Argentina.

England and Argentina both arrived with extra-time miles in their legs. England took the lead, but Argentina came back to win 2-1 and turn the final into Spain vs Argentina. England now reset for France in the third-place match.

France vs Spain is now the completed control match. Spain turned the first semifinal into the result they needed: a two-goal win, a clean final path and no extra-time load before July 19.

England vs Argentina became the recovery match. Both teams came through extra time in the quarterfinals, and Argentina handled the late phase better, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win.

The easiest way to follow the final weekend is this: Match 101 put Spain in the final, Match 102 put Argentina there, and the losing semifinalists meet in Miami Gardens.