The race for the 2026 World Cup crown is narrowing down. After Spain secured their spot in the final, the remaining final ticket will be contested by two football powerhouses, England and Argentina. This crucial semi-final match is scheduled to take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia, United States, on Thursday (16/7/2026) early morning at 02:00 WIB.
Previously, the Spanish national team had already secured their place in the final after defeating France with a convincing 2-0 score at the AT&T Stadium, Texas. The Matadors' victory was sealed through a penalty kick by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 22nd minute and a closing goal from Pedro Porro in the 58th minute. This result forces France to settle for the third-place play-off.
The match between England and Argentina is predicted to be fierce, given the long history of rivalry between the two countries in international football. The winner of this duel will directly challenge Spain in the final, while the losing team will face France to compete for the third-place title in this 23rd edition of the tournament.
This battle for the final ticket will be refereed by the experienced Moroccan-American referee, Ismail Elfath. His leadership is expected to keep control of the match, which is projected to be high-tension from the opening whistle.
