Demi-finales CDM 2026 : Espagne et Argentine en finale
Sport
4 min Thomas

2026 World Cup semi-finals: Spain and Argentina in the final

Summary

Two nights, two verdicts. Spain extinguished the Bleus in Dallas, Argentina overturned England in the dying moments in Atlanta. On Sunday, the football world converges on New York for a final no one dared to promise: Messi versus Yamal.

The semi-finals have delivered their verdict. Next stop: New York.

Semi-finals in brief

  • ⚽ France 0-2 Spain — Tuesday, July 14, Dallas
  • ⚽ England 1-2 Argentina — Wednesday, July 15, Atlanta
  • Final: Spain - Argentina, Sunday, July 19 at 9:00 PM (Paris time)
  • ️ Stadium: MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey (over 80,000 seats)
  • Unprecedented: first-ever halftime show in a World Cup final

France-Spain: La Roja extinguishes the Bleus, Deschamps exits quietly

Dallas, Tuesday evening. France aimed for a third consecutive World Cup final. They never existed in this match. Spain took control of the ball from the first minutes — and never gave it back.

The turning point came in the 22nd minute. Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the box, Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty. Eight minutes later, another blow: William Saliba left injured. Then Pedro Porro finished a clear collective move in the 58th. 2-0, curtain. Mbappé tried, alone against a defense that conceded only one goal in seven matches in this World Cup.

The symbol lies elsewhere. After fourteen years of reign, Didier Deschamps leaves the Bleus bench with this elimination. His post-match comment, delivered to the microphone, sounds like a confession: "We were a notch below." A cold exit for the man with two stars.

Focus: highlights in video

Official summaries of both semi-finals are available on the FIFA platform: watch the highlights on FIFA.com. Oyarzabal’s penalty and Lautaro Martinez’s header are worth seeing.

England-Argentina: Messi turns everything around in the dying moments

Atlanta, Wednesday. A tightly locked match: no shots on target in the first half, three attempts in total, cards on both sides. Then Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. England held their final. They held it until the 85th.

That’s when Argentina unleashed their signature scenario. Enzo Fernandez equalized with a long-range strike that shook the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And in stoppage time, Lionel Messi delivered a perfect cross to Lautaro Martinez’s head. 2-1. La Albiceleste snatched their fourth consecutive knife-edge victory, after extra time wins against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. This team refuses to die — it has become their trademark.

In the press conference, Lionel Scaloni did not play the cold tactician: "I have no words, it’s just emotion. It’s immense joy for the people, the country, this group. [...] This jersey must be earned." Before the match, Thomas Tuchel dismissed the shadow of 1986 and Maradona’s "Hand of God": "We respect our opponent, but we don’t dive into historical events." History, however, has chosen its side again.

Spain-Argentina: the final the world was waiting for

Meet Sunday July 19 at 9:00 PM, Paris time, at MetLife Stadium — renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup. On one side, reigning European champion Spain, unbeaten in their last fourteen major tournament matches, led by metronome Rodri and the audacity of Lamine Yamal, 19 years old. On the other, defending champion Argentina, navigating this World Cup like a thriller.

And at the center of it all: Messi, 39 years old. Eight goals and two assists in this tournament. Twenty-one World Cup goals, an absolute record. First player in history to exceed ten decisive contributions in two consecutive World Cups. A win on Sunday would make him captain of a fourth consecutive major trophy with La Albiceleste. No one has ever done that.

A twist of fate: the Finalissima Spain-Argentina, scheduled for last March, was canceled. The Messi-Yamal duel everyone demanded will finally take place on the biggest stage possible: a World Cup final.

Golden tickets, halftime show: an extraordinary final

Over 80,000 people are expected inside the New Jersey venue, just a few kilometers from Manhattan. Ticket figures are dizzying: from $2,030 for the highest seat to nearly $33,000 in category 1 on the official ticketing. On the resale market, the average ticket trades above $11,000. The most expensive final in football history.

Another first: FIFA offers this final a halftime show in Super Bowl style, a revolution for a World Cup. On the program, a surreal lineup orchestrated by Chris Martin of Coldplay: Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Burna Boy, accompanied by conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

On the benches, the match doubles as a story of friendship. Luis de la Fuente announced it even before the second semi-final: "I look forward to facing Argentina because of the friendship I have with Lionel Scaloni." His wish was granted. On Sunday, the two friends will each do the other a favor: try to break the other’s dream.

Did you know?

Never before had a World Cup final included a halftime concert. The July 19 show is also a charity operation led with Global Citizen: the goal is to raise 100 million dollars for children’s access to education and football worldwide.

Ninety minutes for eternity

Spain wants its second star, Argentina wants its fourth. Messi may be playing his last World Cup match, Yamal is playing the first major event of a career that promises to be huge. Sunday night, New York will decide.

#CDM2026 #FINAL #SPAINARGENTINA #MESSI #RADARPXP

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