World Cup Semifinals: Spain Advances as England Prepares for Argentina

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its climax. On Tuesday, Spain punched their ticket to Sunday's final with a clinical 2-0 victory over France at Dallas Stadium. Now, the soccer world turns its attention to Wednesday's massive semifinal showdown between England and Argentina in Atlanta. Spain's Historic Run Continues Spain's path to their second-ever World Cup final was paved by a dominant performance against a stout French defense. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a penalty kick—his fifth goal of the tournament—after 19-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal was fouled in the box. Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute, capping off a brilliant give-and-go with Dani Olmo. France was held scoreless, giving Spain their sixth clean sheet of the tournament. The victory also extended Spain's unbeaten streak to 37 matches, tying the international football record set by Italy. With France eliminated, oddsmakers have firmly installed Spain as the new favorite to lift the trophy. Betting Preview: England vs. Argentina Wednesday's semifinal brings a historic rivalry to the World Cup stage, marking the first time Lionel Messi will face England in this tournament. Argentina is seeking their third final appearance in the last four World Cups, while England hopes to reach the title match for the first time since 1966. Oddsmakers view this as a razor-thin matchup. England is currently a slight favorite to advance (-125), with Argentina close behind at +115. Both teams have showcased potent offenses, with Argentina averaging 2.8 goals per match and England averaging 2.2. However, England has shown defensive vulnerabilities, conceding goals in four of their six matches while deploying a different backline in each game. SBA Takeaway Bettors should look closely at the Over 2.5 goals market (+129). Argentina's fullbacks have been exposed on the counterattack, a weakness England's pacey wingers can exploit. Conversely, Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez are more than capable of breaking down an unsettled English defense. Expect a high-scoring, tactical battle where Thomas Tuchel's late substitutions could be the deciding factor. Related Reading - Our AI Is Calling the World Cup — and It's Not Even Close - Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History in Portugal's Dramatic Win Over Croatia