What We've Learned from the 2026 World Cup Semi-Finalists

The World Cup semi-final stage is set, featuring the best teams in the world. The top four teams in the FIFA rankings are the last ones standing in the tournament. An epic semi-final series awaits, with France facing Spain on Tuesday, and England playing Argentina on Wednesday. Here's what we've learned about each of the four strongest teams after their first six matches in the competition.

Argentina

Argentina's vast experience has proven to be an incredible asset. Yes, this team isn't perfect. It needs more pace on the wings and has too often conceded an equaliser after taking the lead. However, there's arguably no more composed team in the final stages of a tense match. This is a huge advantage, especially given the pressure on the squad in what is surely Lionel Messi's final World Cup. Argentina played with fire in their extra-time win over Cape Verde, the remarkable comeback against Egypt, and another extra-time victory against a ten-man Switzerland. But in all three cases, someone produced a moment of magic. Messi was pivotal in the first two matches and was again the team's epicentre against the Swiss. But while he and his teammates struggled to break down Switzerland's defence, a thunderbolt from Julián Álvarez secured the win. Let's not be mistaken, England, and then the winner (or loser) of the France-Spain match, are far tougher and more talented opponents than anyone Argentina has faced so far. "La Albiceleste" may not be able to rely on late moments of individual brilliance to win, but given what we've seen in the tournament and the players in Argentina's squad, we certainly wouldn't bet against the magic continuing.

England

It's easy to see how manager Thomas Tuchel's attack is built around Harry Kane's style of play. He likes to drop deep from his number 9 position to receive the ball and orchestrate the play. While Kane does this, England's wingers are tasked with surging forward. This is why Tuchel has aggressively rotated Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, and Eberechi Eze throughout the tournament. He wants fresh legs on the flanks. The combination of Kane and the fast wingers also opens up the midfield for Jude Bellingham, who can make runs towards the goal, and Bellingham has shown just how dangerous he is in each of England's last two matches.

Bellingham and Kane already have six goals each in six matches. Among players whose teams are still in the tournament, only Messi and Kylian Mbappé have more. If there's a downside to England's success so far, it's that no one else is scoring. Marcus Rashford's goal against Croatia in the group stage is the only one for the Three Lions scored by a player other than Kane or Bellingham. If both are neutralised against Argentina or in the final, it could be a huge problem. But for now, they have yet to be stopped.

France

France manager Didier Deschamps entered his fourth and final World Cup at the helm of his nation with a squad much different from previous years. After reaching the last two World Cup finals with a dominant midfield, the centre of the park was France's biggest question mark heading into this summer's tournament. So far, the midfield hasn't mattered. France has scored 16 goals in six matches at the 2026 World Cup, thanks to an attack featuring Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. The three form the most fearsome trio left in the World Cup; Mbappé and Dembélé have 13 of those goals, and Olise leads the team with five assists. In 2014, France scored nine goals on their way to the quarter-finals. In 2018, when the country won its second World Cup, they scored 12 goals in seven matches. Four years ago, France had 13 goals in six matches before the final, and then Mbappé's hat-trick sent the match to extra time before Argentina won on penalties.

Spain

If Spain needs a goal, manager Luis de la Fuente can simply bring on Mikel Merino to get the job done. It sounds ridiculous, but it has proven true during the knockout stage. Merino hasn't come on before the 85th minute in Spain's last two matches. And yet, he has scored both of their winning goals. In a goalless draw against Portugal, Merino came on in the 85th minute. Six minutes later, he was the one who finally found the net after an assist from Ferran Torres. In the World Cup quarter-final against Belgium, with the score at 1-1, Mikel Merino was substituted on in the 86th minute. Less than two minutes later, he had already given Spain a 2-1 lead. The 30-year-old Merino started six matches and scored six goals during the World Cup qualifiers, but it's clear that in this tournament, he is most useful when coming off the bench. This is especially true in moments when Spain's attack stalls.

No one can doubt the class of the Euro 2024 champions, but of the 11 goals Spain has scored at the World Cup, seven came against Saudi Arabia and Austria. If the Spanish can quickly break down the opposition's defence, the goals pour in. If not, however, the match can become exceedingly difficult – and that's precisely when Merino's presence becomes essential.