World Cup 2026 Daily Briefing: July 12 — Final Four Set
Argentina and England join France and Spain in the semis after dramatic Saturday quarterfinals
- July 11 results: England 2–1 Norway (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami); Argentina 3–1 Switzerland AET (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
- Semifinals: France vs. Spain — July 14, AT&T Stadium, Dallas; England vs. Argentina — July 15, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- Final: July 19, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
What the odds say
2026 FIFA World Cup
World Cup 2026 Daily Briefing — July 12: Four Left Standing
As of July 12, 2026, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has its four semifinalists locked in.
What started with 48 nations has been whittled down to the final four: France, Spain, England, and defending champion Argentina.
On July 11,
England defeated Norway 2–1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens
, while
Argentina sealed a late 3–1 win over Switzerland in extra time in Kansas City
to complete the semifinal lineup.
France vs. Spain is set for Tuesday, July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas (3 p.m. ET, Fox), with England vs. Argentina scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (3 p.m. ET, Fox).
The tournament runs through July 19, culminating with the Final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
All four title contenders have distinct market profiles — live title odds are updating continuously at WeeBet's World Cup 2026 hub, where you can track every shift and place your positions on the remaining matches.
- Teams remaining0Semifinalists
- Goals scored (tournament)0104 matches
- Messi goals (tournament)0+Messi
- Days to Final0July 19
- Next matchJul 0FRA vs ESP
Saturday's Results: Both Quarterfinals Delivered Drama
England 2–1 Norway — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
England defeated Norway 2–1 in the quarterfinal at Hard Rock Stadium on July 11
, ending Erling Haaland's remarkable tournament.
Norway had been one of the tournament's most exciting stories, led by striker extraordinaire Erling Haaland.
England advance under Thomas Tuchel to a first World Cup semifinal since 2018, and the Tuchel-era side are now the form side in the European half of the draw, having beaten Mexico 3–2 in the Round of 16 before accounting for Norway.
Argentina 3–1 Switzerland (AET) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Lionel Scaloni's Argentina looked to be cruising after Alexis Mac Allister nodded in Messi's corner in the tenth minute, but Dan Ndoye dragged Switzerland back into the game with a curled finish from a narrow angle in the 67th minute. Any hopes of Swiss dominance ended when Breel Embolo was sent off after a VAR check for simulation in the 72nd minute.
Switzerland held off to force extra time, but Argentina found late winners: Julián Álvarez curled a stunning shot into the top corner from range in the 112th minute.
Lautaro Martínez then added a final goal before the full-time whistle.
The result ends Switzerland's most successful World Cup campaign since 1954, while Argentina are through to the semifinals for the third time in four tournaments.
What the Results Mean for the Title Race
France remain the most dominant side on paper —
they dismissed Morocco 2–0 in the quarterfinal on July 9
and have not yet conceded in the knockout rounds.
Mbappé and France dispatched Morocco with another lethal display to reach the World Cup semis.
Spain edged Belgium 2–1 on July 10, with
Merino booking Spain's semifinal berth against France
— though reports note La Roja needed a late winner and their attack was wasteful for stretches.
The defending champions needed extra time for the second time in the knockout rounds, but Argentina are now just two wins away from becoming the first team since Brazil (1958 and 1962) to repeat as World Cup winners.
Messi's physical load is a genuine concern heading into Atlanta — he turned 39 in June and has already played nine tournament matches, including two extra-time affairs.
Title odds are live and shifting at WeeBet's World Cup 2026 hub. France and Argentina currently occupy the top two positions in the outright market; Spain and England are narrowing the gap after convincing quarterfinal wins. Check the hub for real-time movement.
Today's Slate: July 12
No matches are scheduled for July 12. This is a full rest day ahead of the semifinal double-header. Both semifinal camps will hold recovery sessions and tactical press conferences today.
Looking ahead:
- July 14, 3 p.m. ET — France vs. Spain, AT&T Stadium, Dallas (Fox)
- July 15, 3 p.m. ET — England vs. Argentina, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Fox)
- July 18 — Third-place match, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- July 19, 3 p.m. ET — Final, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Semifinal Preview: France vs. Spain (July 14, Dallas)
European heavyweights France and Spain are set for their Dallas duel, with Spain's De la Fuente facing France in his fifth previous semifinal as a coach or player.
France enter on a five-match unbeaten run in this tournament and have allowed just two goals from open play across nine games. Spain's route has been tougher — a 1–0 win over Portugal in the last 16, then a 2–1 grind past Belgium — and their attack will need to sharpen significantly to break down a Maignan-Upamecano defensive block that has been near-impenetrable.
The event contracts market on this fixture opened France as moderate favorites; Spain's drift in the final quarter against Belgium has trimmed their implied win probability. Track the live line at WeeBet — /events/world-cup-2026.
Semifinal Preview: England vs. Argentina (July 15, Atlanta)
Argentina will take on England in four days in Atlanta.
The fixture carries enormous historical weight — England and Argentina have not met at a World Cup since the 2006 quarterfinals.
England face Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday at 8 p.m. BST.
England's Jude Bellingham has been the tournament's standout midfielder.
England's Bellingham and Norway's Ødegaard have both been thriving at this World Cup
— and with Ødegaard now eliminated, Bellingham carries that billing alone into the last four. For Argentina,
Messi and co. needed extra time for the second time in the knockout rounds
, raising legitimate questions about squad depth and fatigue.
The return of Álvarez could prove to be Argentina's antidote to their Messi dependency
— and July 11 showed exactly what that looks like, with Álvarez delivering the decisive strike.
Semifinal Matchups at a Glance
| Metric | FRA vs ESP (Jul 14) | ENG vs ARG (Jul 15) |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | Mercedes-Benz, Atlanta |
| Kickoff (ET) | 3:00 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
| Broadcast (US) | Fox | Fox |
| France / England KO goals (tournament) | 14 | 12 |
| Spain / Argentina goals conceded | 5 | 6 |
| Extra-time played | Neither | Argentina (twice) |
Key Storylines to Watch Through the Semifinals
Messi's fitness.
Lionel Messi has tallied a tournament-high eight-plus goals and scored in every game he has played.
After two extra-time matches, Argentina's medical staff have four days to manage him toward Atlanta.
Haaland exits.
Erling Haaland struck down Brazil as Norway reached the World Cup quarterfinals
, but his tournament ends at the last eight. He departs as one of the competition's most electrifying performers — the final Golden Boot standings will confirm his contribution once all matches conclude.
All three co-hosts eliminated.
All three co-hosts are out: Canada was knocked out by Morocco, Mexico fell to England, and the USMNT was eliminated by Belgium.
The tournament's political narrative — a home-soil celebration — has given way to a classically European-South American final four.
France's Mbappé. After years of World Cup near-misses in the final, Kylian Mbappé is two wins from a second title. His performances against Paraguay and Morocco have drawn comparisons with Ronaldo at his 2002 peak.
Where to Track Odds and Place Positions
All outright winner markets, semifinal match markets, top scorer event contracts, and correct score markets for the remaining four games are live at WeeBet — /events/world-cup-2026. Odds update in real time; the hub includes head-to-head data, team form trackers, and live line movement for every remaining fixture.
Please bet responsibly. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 (US) or visit ncpgambling.org. Set deposit limits before placing any positions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the four remaining teams at the 2026 World Cup as of July 12?
France, Spain, England, and defending champion Argentina have all secured their spots in the semifinals.
France play Spain on July 14 in Dallas; England play Argentina on July 15 in Atlanta.
What happened in the Argentina vs. Switzerland quarterfinal on July 11?
Argentina sealed a 3–1 win over Switzerland in extra time in Kansas City.
Alexis Mac Allister put Argentina ahead after 10 minutes, Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute, but Switzerland were reduced to 10 men when Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow after video review.
Switzerland held out for extra time but eventually succumbed, with Julián Álvarez breaking the deadlock in the 112th minute with a curler into the top corner.
Are there any World Cup games on July 12, 2026?
No. July 12 is a scheduled rest day between the quarterfinals (completed July 11) and the first semifinal on July 14. The next match is France vs. Spain at AT&T Stadium, Dallas, on July 14 at 3 p.m. ET on Fox.
When and where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final takes place on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at 3 p.m. ET.
Live outright winner markets are available now at WeeBet — /events/world-cup-2026.
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