At the moment, Messi and Mbappe sit at the top of the tournament’s goalscoring charts, while also climbing the all-time World Cup scoring list. In this tournament, both forwards have found the back of the net eight times, raising Messi’s career World Cup total to 21 goals and Mbappé’s to 20, putting them in highly exclusive historical company.

While Messi will feature for Argentina in the World Cup final against Spain, Mbappe has one last opportunity to increase his tally as well. Following their semifinal defeat, France will face England (the losers of the other semifinal) in the third-place playoff, meaning both stars have one game remaining to break the tie.

Golden Boot tie-breaking criteria

Having both gone scoreless in the semifinals, Messi and Mbappe remain stuck on eight goals, leaving open the possibility that neither scores in their final match. If they remain tied at the end of the weekend, FIFA will turn to its official tie-breaking rules to determine the winner of the Golden Boot.

The award goes to the player with the most goals in the tournament, but if two or more players finish level, the tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

• If two or more players score the same number of goals, the number of assists (as determined by the members of the FIFA Technical Study Group) shall be decisive.
• If two or more players are still equal after taking into account the number of assists, the total minutes played in the tournament will be taken into account, with the player playing fewer minutes ranked first.

Currently, Messi holds the tiebreaker advantage with four assists compared to Mbappe’s three. However, if the French forward records one assist in his final match while Messi does not, the tiebreaker would move to total playing time, where Mbappe currently holds the edge with 609 minutes played compared to Messi’s 620.

Could another player snatch the Golden Boot?

At the moment, Norway’s Erling Haaland is the closest pursuer with seven goals, though he cannot add to his tally since Norway has already been eliminated. However, there are still active players in the tournament who could theoretically overtake the leaders.

England forwards Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both sit tied for fourth place with six goals and one assist each. While facing a tough French defense makes it a difficult task, a multi-goal performance from either player in the third-place match, combined with a scoreless final outing for Messi and Mbappé, could shake up the Golden Boot race at the very end.

Vincic, 46, has put together a distinguished international career since first earning his FIFA badge in 2010, regularly calling marquee matchups in Europe and on the international stage. At the club level, his impressive resume is highlighted by officiating the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, as well as the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

The Slovenian official made his World Cup debut in Qatar, where he was assigned to two matches, and has added another three assignments to his tally during the 2026 tournament. Sunday’s highly anticipated final will mark his sixth career World Cup match, and his fourth of this current campaign, representing the absolute pinnacle of his officiating career.

Yamal’s Spain record with Vincic

Given his status as one of UEFA’s top referees, Vincic has had numerous opportunities to oversee Spain in competitive European fixtures. His history with La Roja dates back to a 2017 friendly against Colombia, followed by group-stage duties at Euro 2020 against Sweden, and a UEFA Nations League semifinal clash against Italy in 2023, though all of those matches predated Lamine Yamal‘s international breakthrough.

However, Vincic has been the man in the middle for two significant matches in Yamal’s young international career. Both occurred during Spain‘s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, starting with a 1-0 group-stage win over Italy and followed by the 2-1 semifinal victory against France, where the teenage winger scored his famous long-range equalizer.

Vincic’s record with Messi’s Argentina

Due to the geographical divide, Vincic has naturally crossed paths with Argentina far less frequently than Spain. Yet, the Slovenian referee was at the whistle for one of the most shocking and painful moments in modern Argentine soccer history.

The only time Vincic has refereed the Albiceleste was during their opening group-stage match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In that game, Saudi Arabia pulled off a historic 2-1 upset, snapping Argentina’s legendary 36-match unbeaten streak and marking the only time Messi’s side has ever lost with Vincic on the pitch.

Despite the final scoreline, the refereeing decisions on that day actually favored the South American champions early on. In just the seventh minute, Vincic awarded Argentina a penalty after Leandro Paredes was pulled down during a corner kick, a decision that was heavily debate, allowing Messi to open the scoring, before he went on to hand out six yellow cards to Saudi Arabian players while keeping his book clean for the Argentines.

The debut for Barcelona’s young winger occurred in April 2023 when he took the pitch at just 15 years and 9 months old, becoming the youngest player to represent the club. However, his rapid rise coincided with the end of the European era for both Messi and Ronaldo, with the Argentine playing his final months at PSG before heading to Inter Miami, while the Portuguese forward had already departed for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.

Despite his youth, Yamal quickly earned a starting role for Spain, leading to an eventual meeting against Ronaldo on the European stage. The first match between Yamal and Ronaldo occurred in the summer of 2025, when the two players faced off in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final.

Through 90 minutes of regulation, Portugal and Spain played to a 2-2 draw, with Ronaldo scoring a goal before leaving in the 88th minute due to an injury. During the ensuing extra-time period, Yamal was substituted in the 106th minute after a physical matchup against fullback Nuno Mendes, and with the teams still tied, Portugal ultimately claimed the trophy with a 5-3 victory in a penalty shootout.

The second and most recent meeting between Yamal and Ronaldo took place in the Round of 16 of the current 2026 World Cup. Both players struggled to find space in a tight, defensive game, which was finally decided when Mikel Merino scored a late winner to send Spain to the quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory.

Yamal’s career record in finals

Having recently turned 19, Yamal is already regarded as one of the top players in the world, highlighted by his runner-up finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting behind Ousmane Dembele. Despite his age, he has played in several high-stakes finals with mixed results for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

In total, Lamine Yamal has played in four cup finals for Barcelona and two for the Spanish national team. With his club, he has recorded three wins and one defeat, while split with a win and a loss in his two final appearances for Spain. Across those six matches, the winger has recorded one goal and three assists.

At the time of the shoot in late 2007, a 20-year-old, long-haired Lionel Messi was just beginning his historic ascent toward global soccer dominance. Cradling a six-month-old Lamine Yamal in a plastic tub, the image serves as an almost mystical premonition bridging two distinct generations of FC Barcelona excellence, a narrative made even more poetic now that they are set to clash in a World Cup final.

In reality, the photo was born from a joint charity campaign organized by UNICEF, Spanish sports outlet Diario Sport, and FC Barcelona. Beginning in 2004, the Spanish publication released an annual calendar to raise vital funds for the global non-governmental organization and support the FC Barcelona Foundation’s local community outreach.

For the 2008 edition, the charitable initiative was supported by various prominent members of Barcelona’s senior squad. The foundation and its associated partners handpicked the players who would participate in the shoots, featuring a star-studded lineup that included Portuguese Deco, a young Bojan Krkic, Mexican icon Rafa Marquez, midfield legend Xavi Hernandez, and, of course, a young Lionel Messi.

As explained by Oriol Canals, who helped coordinate the promotion for Diario Sport, the project worked with local charities to organize the participants, which is how Yamal’s family entered the picture. Through a sudden twist of fate, the future Barcelona talisman’s family won a charity raffle, granting the infant Yamal a spot in the Camp Nou locker room for a photo shoot with Messi.

Yamal on the iconic picture with Messi

Nearly two decades after that fateful day, Lionel Messi has cemented his legacy as Barcelona’s ultimate icon, while Lamine Yamal is widely hailed as the club’s next generational superstar. As they prepare to face off on Sunday in New Jersey for the World Cup final, the mutual respect between the master and his successor remains stronger than ever.

Reflecting on the picture following Spain’s semifinal triumph, Yamal smiled when asked about the viral sensation during an interview with DAZN: “Well, I’ve grown a little bit, and Leo has too. I hope I can face Lionel Messi in the final, since we couldn’t in the Finalissima.”

As reported by Spanish outlets Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo, Yamal initially took the pitch alongside his teammates at the Melanie Lane Training Grounds, but he stepped aside during “rondo” warm-up drills to work individually on a sideline mat. The FC Barcelona phenom went through a series of light stretching exercises and followed a tailored physical program to manage his workload ahead of the final.

In the semifinal victory over France, Yamal played the full 90 minutes and had a stunning goal disallowed for offside while once again proving to be Spain’s most dangerous attacking outlet. However, sources indicate he is currently nursing a minor knock and slight discomfort in his right ankle, which occurred after an awkward landing on the final play of the game.

Additionally, during Thursday’s session, the teenager was spotted wearing a compression wrap on his left thigh. This is the same muscular zone that was injured prior to the tournament, an ailment that sidelined him for over a month and forced him to miss the final stretch of the domestic season with Barcelona.

Despite the cautionary measures, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) remains completely calm regarding Yamal’s physical condition. Team doctors fully expect the winger to rejoin the main group for Friday’s training session and be at 100 percent for the final against Argentina.

Pedro Porro also training individually

Starting right back Pedro Porro was another notable contributor held out of the full squad session to work through an individual recovery program. Porro experienced acute muscle tightness during the semifinal clash against France, leading to his 84th-minute substitution for Marcos Llorente, but the knock is not expected to threaten his availability for Sunday.

The dynamic fullback has developed into one of Spain’s most essential tactical assets, balancing defensive stability with immense attacking production. His relentless overlapping runs and intelligent inside underlaps have already produced two crucial tournament goals, finding the net against Austria and France to make him Spain’s joint-second leading scorer in the World Cup alongside Mikel Merino.

Speaking to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, Del Bosque was candid when asked for his expectations facing the reigning world champions: “I can’t be impartial, but yes, based on how the matches have gone for both teams, I believe in the security of Spain’s football… they’ve had very little, very little work to do and have done very well in defense, and they’ve also been a very strong team in attack.“

As Del Bosque pointed out, Spain has established itself as one of the most balanced and efficient squads on both ends of the pitch. Defensively, La Roja has conceded just a single goal during their entire run in the World Cup (coming in the quarterfinal round against Belgium) while completely shutting down a high-powered French attack in a dominant semifinal shutout.

On the offensive side, despite superstar prodigy Lamine Yamal playing through a lingering muscle injury that has hampered his explosive form, Spain has found plenty of depth. Ranking as the fifth-highest scoring nation in the tournament with 13 goals, the attack has been led by Mikel Oyarzabal’s team-high five tallies, supplemented by crucial goals from Pedro Porro, Mikel Merino, Álex Baena, Yamal, and Fabián Ruiz.

While emphasizing that this is a golden opportunity for Spain to write another golden chapter, Del Bosque urged caution, pointing to Argentina‘s dramatic semifinal comeback against England as a warning sign. “Therefore, it seems that Spain has an extraordinary opportunity to win a second World Cup. But we mustn’t get complacent, we mustn’t get complacent, and I think what happened today in the England-Argentina match is a lesson, an example,” he concluded.

Just as they did earlier in the tournament against Egypt, Argentina overcame a late deficit by mounting a stunning stoppage-time surge, leveling the match in the 85th minute before netting a dramatic winner in the 92nd to advance. With this never-say-die attitude becoming a trademark of Lionel Messi’s squad, Del Bosque’s warning serves as a crucial reminder for Spain to maintain defensive intensity until the final whistle.

De la Fuente chases historic world record

Vicente del Bosque is widely considered the most successful manager in Spanish history, having famously overseen the triumphs at Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Current boss Luis de la Fuente is now on the verge of joining that legendary pantheon, already boasting a UEFA Nations League trophy and a Euro 2024 crown alongside an active, historic unbeaten streak.

Under De la Fuente’s guidance, Spain has compiled an astonishing 37-match unbeaten streak, officially eclipsing Del Bosque’s previous national record of 35 games. This run also ties the all-time international record set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy, meaning that avoiding defeat against Argentina on Sunday would place this modern Spanish team in a class of its own with an unprecedented 38-game unbeaten run.

In the days leading up to kickoff, Neville had offered some incredibly harsh criticism of Argentina‘s starting center-back pairing of Romero and Lisandro Martinez in one of the last editions of The Overlaps podcast, branding them as a major liability: “I do not see any way we won’t score at least 2 goals against Argentina… I call them the best-worst central defensive duo in the world. They go from the sublime to the ridiculous.”

While arguing that the pairing was highly vulnerable defensively, Neville did begrudgingly acknowledge their unique ability to make an impact on the opposite end of the pitch. “You’ve got Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez who seem to give away a goal between them per game! Then you see them again and it turns out they’re scoring goals, winning all the headers and popping up everywhere!”

Romero and Martinez issue joint response to Neville

Following the final whistle, Romero spoke with DSports and immediately addressed the pre-match talk originating from across the Atlantic: “In England they are used to talking a lot before the match, so we send them a big hello; they must be very happy.“

Martinez was equally dismissive of the relentless criticism, reflecting on the media landscape in the British Isles. “We are used to them always talking about us. You can tell they like to talk about us, and we respond on the pitch. Nothing more, always with respect,” he stated.

However, Romero pulled no punches when specifically pressed on Neville’s comments: “The only thing I hope for when I retire is that I won’t be that stupid. Ultimately, it’s up to each person, but when I retire down the line, I hope I don’t find myself criticizing a player or underestimating anyone, because in the end, you go out there to do the best for your club or national team.“

Romero concluded his statement by setting his expectations ahead of the final on Sunday, his fifth one already with the Argentina national team: “After that, it can go right or wrong, but we are happy to be in a World Cup final again. We are making history; for us, it is something huge. We feel the shirt like no one else.“

Speaking to TyC Sports on the pitch, Messi opened up about the heavy historical gravity and raw emotion of the clash: “Everything we experienced was incredible. From the beginning, even though it was just a football match, when we started walking out, the anthem and everything, we felt it wasn’t just another victory. This group is incredible. Today we went for it again. We never stopped believing, never stopped trying. When we were down on the scoreboard, we pinned them back in their box. So, it brings enormous happiness.“

The legendary playmaker also emphasized his unwavering faith in his teammates, acknowledging that their collective strength goes far beyond any individual brilliance. “It’s crazy how things are playing out. Honestly, before the World Cup started, I had faith in this group. I thought we were going to be among the final four, that we were going to fight for it. I know, and we knew, what we were capable of,” he added.

The grueling extra-time period required to dispatch Switzerland in the previous round clearly took a physical toll on the roster’s fitness, but Argentina showed championship resolve to overcome that fatigue: “Maybe people had doubts because of how we came into it, with players pushed right to the limit. But when this group comes together and is united, we feed off each other and find strength out of nowhere to give even more.”

Messi concluded with a heartfelt message to the traveling Argentine supporters back home and in the stands, as the nation prepares to compete in its third World Cup final across the last four tournament editions. “Enjoy this moment just like we are. Today we’ve made it into another World Cup final. We’ve been enjoying being world champions for four years, and now we are playing in a new final. We achieved what we all wanted. Now, it will be whatever God wills,” he stated.

Lionel Scaloni on Argentina’s dramatic qualification

Since Lionel Scaloni took the helm in 2018, Argentina has embarked on an unprecedented run of five consecutive tournament finals across the Copa America (2021, 2024), the Finalissima (2022), and the World Cup (2022, 2026). Yet, despite all the silverware, this resilient squad continues to leave its manager in awe after delivering another legendary comeback.

Following the final whistle, Scaloni reflected on the squad’s intangible qualities and the sheer grit required to pull off the victory: “It’s a combination of many things, about the group, about brotherhood. About fighting until the very end. We are going out there to win a final; we are going to try to win it. These guys have moved me. I don’t have much else to say. I am so grateful to the players. Without them, it is impossible. And above all, to those who don’t play, to those who support from the outside. And the ones who came off the bench have been crucial.”

In the buildup to kickoff, the matchup drew inevitable comparisons to the historic 1986 clash defined by the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century,” and while Wednesday’s drama carved out its own legacy, Scaloni kept his focus on the immediate future. “I can’t compare this match with that one (the one from ’86), I was very little. We thought the game against Egypt was the absolute peak, but I think this surpassed it. Regardless of the opponent, it was a semi-final. I am worried, because now we have to rest. As far as I’m concerned, we need to go rest right now and prepare for the match (against Spain).”

In 2014, then operating at the absolute peak of his athletic prime, Messi single-handedly carried Argentina to the final in Brazil. However, his dreams of hoisting the famous trophy were brutally shattered in extra time by a late, heartbreaking match-winner from Germany’s Mario Gotze.

At 35 years old, in what many assumed would be his last World Cup at Qatar 2022, the maestro rewrote the script by capturing the one major trophy that had eluded him in a spectacular penalty shootout victory over France. Now in 2026, following three stellar seasons with MLS side Inter Miami, Messi has stunned the global soccer landscape yet again, racking up eight goals and four assists over seven matches to guide Argentina back to the grandest stage.

With Sunday’s highly anticipated showdown against Spain, Messi is on track to become the first player in soccer history to start three separate World Cup finals. Across 23 editions of the tournament, while a handful of iconic names have reached three finals, none have done so as a member of the starting eleven each time while remaining the undisputed focal point of their national team.

Furthermore, Messi will become only the second player in history to step onto the pitch in three different finals. The only other man to achieve this is legendary Brazilian right back Cafu, who entered the 1994 final as a 21st-minute substitute for an injured Jorginho, before starting in both the 1998 final against France and the 2002 triumph over Germany.

The exclusive club of three-time World Cup finalists

Competing in a World Cup is the ultimate dream for any elite player, but stepping onto the pitch in three separate finals represents an almost mythic achievement. While Cafu and Messi stand alone at the pinnacle of this statistical mountain, a select group of legendary figures have historically come agonizingly close to joining them.

Pele, famously the only player to win three World Cups, missed out on playing in the 1962 final due to a severe muscle injury sustained in the group stage. Similarly, Ronaldo Nazario was an unused squad member for Brazil in 1994, German legend Lothar Matthaus remained on the bench as an inexperienced 21-year-old in 1982, and his countryman Pierre Littbarski went unused during Germany’s 1986 final appearance against Argentina.

England broke the ice in the 55th minute when Morgan Rogers whipped in a precise cross to Anthony Gordon, who shook off his marker, Nahuel Molina, to finish clinically with a first-time strike. Attempting to protect their slim lead, the Three Lions dropped deep into a defensive shell, which successfully frustrated Argentina until Enzo Fernandez leveled the score with a spectacular, long-range blast in the 85th minute.

With the Three Lions struggling to escape their own half under relentless pressure, Alexis Mac Allister found a pocket of space to unleash a blistering strike that rattled off the post. The ball remained active deep in the right corner, and a relentless Lionel Messi sprinted to keep the play alive.

After bringing the ball under control, Messi utilized his weaker right foot to whip a gorgeous, curling service to Lautaro Martinez, who rose above his marker in the 92nd minute to nod home the dramatic game-winner and punch Argentina’s ticket to the final.

With a thrilling 2-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Argentina will now travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to face Spain in the 2026 World Cup final next Sunday, July 19th, at MetLife Stadium. This represents only the second time in Argentine history that the nation has reached back-to-back World Cup finals, matching the iconic runs of the 1986 and 1990 squads.

Messi continues to rewrite the record books

Despite a legendary scoring run earlier in the tournament, Messi was kept off the scoresheet for a second consecutive match following tight defensive game plans from Switzerland and England. However, his lack of goals has hardly diminished his impact, as the legendary playmaker found other ways to orchestrate Argentina’s march to yet another final.

His vital assist to Mac Allister in the quarterfinal against Switzerland officially cemented Messi as the all-time assist leader in World Cup history. By adding another pair of brilliant setups against England, the Argentine captain has raised his unparalleled career tournament tally to 12 assists.

O’Reilly will begin the match on the bench due to a calculated tactical adjustments implemented by head coach Thomas Tuchel. Believing that the Argentine backline is particularly vulnerable to explosive speed out wide, the German manager has opted for a raw, pace-oriented approach on the left flank rather than relying on O’Reilly’s signature technical possession play.

Instead, Tuchel has made the bold decision to slot Djed Spence into the starting lineup at left back, anchoring the opposite flank with Reece James on the right. The Tottenham Hotspur defender clearly made a lasting impression during his recent shift against Norway, where his dynamic overlapping runs nearly won a penalty, and he is now being deployed as a highly aggressive, attacking fullback to exploit Argentina’s defensive spacing.

Prior to today, O’Reilly had featured in every single World Cup match for England, frequently giving way to Spence in the second half as a tactical substitution to inject an explosive X-factor down the flank. The only other game the Manchester City starlet did not start was the group-stage matchup against Ghana, where Tuchel similarly prioritized Spence’s raw speed to overwhelm the opposition while the Three Lions dominated possession.

Spence is set for a grueling physical battle on his flank as he goes toe-to-toe with Argentine right back Nahuel Molina and winger Giuliano Simeone. In a mirror-image tactical gamble, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni made the shocking decision to drop midfield engine Rodrigo De Paul from the starting lineup for the first time in the tournament, opting instead for the explosive pace of the Atlético Madrid starlet in a matchup that promises to be one of the game’s most critical chess matches.

O’Reilly to wait for his chance to face Messi

This blockbuster clash will mark the first time Lionel Messi has faced England in his legendary career, having famously missed the last international friendly between the two powerhouse nations back in 2005 due to a red card. Now, on the grand stage of a World Cup semifinal, the Argentine icon will finally meet the Three Lions, a historic challenge that Nico O’Reilly is eager to join from the bench.

In a pre-match interview with the BBC, when asked whether he was looking forward to the prospect of sharing the pitch with Messi, the young midfielder’s response was direct: “I can’t wait. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He’s coming towards the end of his career. For me personally, he’s the best player to ever touch a football pitch. I can’t wait for the challenge.“

Saka will begin the match on the bench due to a purely tactical adjustment made by head coach Thomas Tuchel. The German manager has frequently rotated his options on the right wing throughout this tournament in North America, and he has opted for another high-profile gamble by dropping the Arsenal star for today’s clash.

Instead, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers will earn the start on the right flank to match up against Argentina. This represents only the second start of the tournament for Rogers, who previously featured in the lineup against Panama and logged substitute appearances against Croatia, Ghana, Mexico, and Norway without recording a goal or an assist.

Even so, Tuchel is placing his trust in the rising Villa attacker over Saka, who has endured a relatively quiet tournament by his lofty standards. The Arsenal winger has recorded three assists during the campaign, distributing them evenly across group-stage matches against Croatia, Panama, and Mexico.

Saka originally entered the World Cup carrying a lingering muscular injury that kept him sidelined for a pre-tournament friendly against New Zealand. He went on to start against Panama, Mexico, and Norway, but while he has featured as a second-half substitute in England’s other matches, he has yet to play a full 90 minutes.

Rogers’ breakthrough campaign

Operating primarily as a central attacking midfielder for Aston Villa, Rogers’ stellar domestic form earned him a consistent place in Tuchel’s international plans. While he has registered just one goal and two assists across his first 20 caps with the Three Lions, his dynamic, energetic performance off the bench against Norway clearly solidified his place in the manager’s tactical blueprint.

Remaining completely healthy throughout the grueling 2025-26 club season, Rogers racked up 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances for Villa. Those impressive numbers helped propel his club forward while securing his individual selection to the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.

Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Elfath immigrated to the United States and broke into Major League Soccer in 2012, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top referees before earning selection to his second consecutive World Cup. Wednesday’s highly anticipated showdown on July 15th will mark the first time Elfath has officiated a match featuring Messi on the international stage, though the two share plenty of history at the club level.

Since Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, Elfath has drawn the whistle for four of the Herons’ fixtures. Remarkably, the Argentine superstar has walked away victorious in every single one of those matches, none more significant than the historic 2023 Leagues Cup final, where the Fort Lauderdale-based club outlasted Nashville SC in a marathon penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw (a match in which Messi scored during regulation and converted his opening spot-kick).

The other three matchups occurred during MLS regular-season play: a 3-1 victory over Nashville in 2024 (where Messi logged a goal and an assist), a 4-1 thrashing of the New England Revolution (where he tallied three assists), and most recently, a thrilling 4-2 comeback victory over Orlando City in the Florida Derby in March 2026, featuring a vintage Messi brace that included a stunning free kick. Across those four matches, the legendary forward racked up a staggering four goals and four assists.

While Wednesday’s blockbuster matchup will mark Elfath’s first time refereeing England national team, he is already familiar with Argentina. The American official was the man in the middle for a scoreless friendly between the Albiceleste and Colombia back in September 2018 at MetLife Stadium, though Messi did not feature in that match as he was resting from international duty under a mutual agreement with newly appointed head coach Lionel Scaloni.

A look at Elfath’s World Cup resume

Elfath famously served as the fourth official during the legendary 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, though he had already built an impressive tournament resume as the lead referee in Qatar. During that tournament, he took charge of high-profile group-stage matches involving Portugal vs. Ghana and Cameroon vs. Brazil, before officiating the tense Round of 16 encounter between Japan and Croatia.

During the current 2026 campaign, he has already officiated three high-stakes matchups, including group-stage fixtures between the Netherlands and Japan, and Uruguay and Spain, alongside the dramatic Round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway. Tasked with managing what promises to be one of the most emotionally charged and historically fierce rivalries in world soccer, Elfath’s officiating performance will undoubtedly be placed under an intense microscope.

Speaking to French outlet M6 in the mixed zone, Mbappe detailed his perspective on the tactical shortcomings that doomed their championship aspirations: “We didn’t play the game we wanted to play, whether tactically, technically, or in terms of the overall level we produced. When you don’t do what you are supposed to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win. Spain stuck to their plan, to what they are faithful to: a team that likes to control the ball, control the tempo.“

While acknowledging Spain’s mastery of their gameplan, Mbappe noted that France‘s primary struggles came down to a failure in execution. “The idea was to press them high so as not to let this false rhythm settle in, and we didn’t manage to do that. There were too many technical errors; we didn’t know how to hurt them when we needed to hurt them,” Mbappe added.

Mbappe also highlighted that, with Spain dictating the tempo of the game, France’s defensive pressure was never coordinated enough to disrupt the flow. “We always found ourselves in a three-against-two numerical disadvantage in midfield,” he added, pointing out that Spanish playmakers Fabian Ruiz and Rodri were afforded far too much time and space due to a “lack of communication on the pressing.“

“We needed to go man-for-man, force them to run with us, because they are a team that doesn’t like to run without the ball. And even when we won the ball back, technically, the first passes and first touches were not worthy of a World Cup semifinal. When you put all of that together, it leads to a defeat,” he candidly stated.

Spain’s complete dominance of possession played a massive role in the outcome, effectively neutralizing Mbappe and keeping him far away from the clinical form that saw him enter the semifinals with eight goals in the tournament. In fact, as revealed by WhoScored, the French superstar was limited to just 15 touches in the first half, representing the lowest involvement of any outfield player on the pitch during the opening 45 minutes of the match.

‘It was a dream’ for Mbappe to reach another final

As unfamiliar as it may feel, Mbappe will miss out on the World Cup final for the first time in his international career, following his starring roles in the 2018 and 2022 showcases. While a semifinal run remains a highly commendable achievement on the global stage, returning to the tournament’s grandest fixture “was a dream” for the newly minted Real Madrid superstar.

When asked to describe his emotions, Mbappe opened up about the collective heartbreak felt inside the French locker room: “Like everyone, a lot of disappointment. It was a dream for us to reach the final, to give our country that chance to dream, to make history. There is a tremendous amount of disappointment; I can’t quite find the words for it. We’ll have to lift our heads up, go on holiday, and start again. Football waits for no one. Other things will be at stake at club and international level.“

Speaking to beIN Sports after the game, Deschamps made his position clear while stopping just short of a direct accusation: “If I say something, I’ll look like a sore loser because we lost. But I ask you the question of whether the referee has the level required to officiate a semi-final. There is the penalty, but it’s not just that—that’s just on top of it all. I have nothing against tonight’s referee, but ask yourselves that question.“

The penalty that led to Spain‘s opening goal was Deschamps’ primary point of contention. While he accepted that Lucas Digne made contact with Lamine Yamal, the French camp’s argument centered on whether the 19-year-old had first touched the ball with his arm before the foul, a detail that went unreviewed by VAR.

Beyond the penalty, Deschamps made clear that Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton’s overall performance had left him unconvinced, even as he acknowledged that France had been outplayed on the night and gave Spain full credit for the victory.

Earlier in his post-match remarks to M6 and beIN Sports, the France coach offered a broader reflection on the elimination. “The players are devastated, but we have to be logical—we were second best on a technical level. It’s our own fault. But I am going to ask a question: does the referee have the level required to officiate a semi-final? I’m not going to answer that. There were quite a few situations,” he said.

Deschamps closed by directing his final words at Spain’s performance rather than the officiating. “But the primary reason is that we were second best, with several technical errors and passes that could have led to chances. This is the very highest level, even if it hurts. We are going to play the third-place play-off. I don’t want to throw away everything that has been achieved, but in this match, Spain showed something extra,” he concluded.

Deschamps to coach one more World Cup game

Deschamps’ legendary tenure as the head coach of the French national team is rapidly drawing to a close, with the semifinal defeat marking the official end of their 2026 World Cup championship run. While French icon Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be the next man to take the helm of the program, Deschamps will have one final match on the sidelines in the third-place playoff.

Despite being unable to replicate his historic championship run from Russia 2018 where the French were crowned kings of the world, Deschamps has officially become the coach with the most matches managed in World Cup history with 26. With the semifinal matchup against Spain, he officially surpassed the legendary record of German manager Helmut Schön, who held the previous benchmark of 25 games, and will add one more game with the clash for the third place.

In the 28th minute, with France chasing the ball in midfield and under no immediate pressure, Saliba went down and signaled to the bench to be replaced. The nature and severity of the injury have not yet been confirmed, but the sight of one of France’s key defenders leaving the field so early in a semifinal immediately raised alarm.

Didier Deschamps turned to Maxence Lacroix as Saliba’s replacement, slotting the Crystal Palace defender alongside Dayot Upamecano in the center of the backline. Lacroix’s only previous minutes in the World Cup came in the final group stage match against Norway, with the defender serving as an unused substitute in every other game.

According to RMC Sport‘s Fabrice Hawkins, Saliba’s exit may not have come as a complete surprise to those inside the France camp. Hawkins reported that the Arsenal defender “has been gritting his teeth since the start of the World Cup” while continuing to perform at a high level despite the discomfort. The only match in which he did not feature was the final group stage game against Norway, having completed the full 90 minutes in every other appearance until being forced off against Spain.

Saliba and his ongoing back pain

While France have yet to release an official injury report, it is known that Saliba has been managing a back problem that predates the tournament. The first signs emerged during the UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG, where the defender was spotted receiving treatment from Arsenal’s medical staff during extra time.

With Arsenal competing for both the Champions League and the Premier League title in the final weeks of the club season, Saliba was determined to remain available for the run-in. Arsenal’s medical staff put a managed protocol in place to allow him to feature in those final matches, but the underlying issue has clearly persisted, and it has now caught up with him at the worst possible moment.

The Trionda’s familiar blue, red, and green color scheme is being replaced by gold and black detailing. The change is a deliberate FIFA decision, in keeping with a tradition the governing body has maintained across recent World Cup editions.

The updated ball, officially called the Trionda Final, will be used from the semifinals onward. That means four appearances in total: the France-Spain semifinal, the England-Argentina semifinal, the third-place playoff, and the final on Sunday, July 19th.

FIFA marked the unveiling with an official statement: “A premium gold finish references the World Cup trophy, set against a black base to elevate the ball’s look and feel, creating a bold and refined visual identity for the final stages of the competition.“

FIFA and the tradition of changing the ball for the final stages

The original Trionda design was built to represent the three host nations, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States each reflected in the color palette. With all remaining games taking place on U.S. soil, the ball’s transformation also marks that symbolic handoff to the final chapter of the tournament.

The tradition of introducing a gold-themed ball for the final stages dates back to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where the Teamgeist received gold detailing to evoke the iconic trophy. The same approach was applied to the Jabulani in South Africa 2010, the Brazuca in Brazil 2014, and the Al Rihla in Qatar 2022, which was replaced by the Al Hilm starting from the semifinals, mirroring the same threshold as this year.

The one deviation from that pattern came at Russia 2018, when the Telstar 18 gave way to the red-colored Telstar Mechta, though that change was introduced at the start of the knockout rounds rather than the semifinals.

In the most recent official update, Spain sits third with 1,934.79 points. They entered the tournament in second with 1,874.71 points, meaning that despite accumulating more points during the competition, France’s stronger results pushed La Roja down one spot in the standings.

With France currently occupying first place, a win over Les Bleus in the semifinal would give Spain a significant rankings boost and reclaim the top spot in world soccer.

It would not be the first time they have sat there. Fueled by back-to-back European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012 and the 2010 World Cup triumph, Spain dominated the number one position in the FIFA Rankings for much of the period between 2008 and 2014, before a group-stage exit in Brazil brought that era to an end. They returned to the summit most recently between September 2025 and January 2026, and are now within reach of doing so again.

Spain have not been outside the FIFA top 10 since September 2017, when they slipped to 11th. Their all-time low sits at 25th, but that feels like a distant memory for a program that has been one of the sport’s most consistently dominant forces in recent years, with Lamine Yamal now ensuring the next generation of Spanish soccer looks just as bright.

Spain’s recent dominance over France a positive omen

Despite France holding the higher ranking, it is Spain who have had the upper hand in the most important recent meetings between the two nations. Back-to-back victories in the Euro 2024 semifinal and the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal have given Yamal’s side significant momentum heading into yet another knockout stage collision, this time on the biggest stage of all.

Doue has been left out by head coach Didier Deschamps in favor of a profile better suited to exploiting Spain‘s right side. While Doue has been a regular starter for France throughout the tournament, Deschamps has opted for a more direct threat down the left flank to target Pedro Porro.

In his place, Bradley Barcola gets the nod on the left wing. His PSG teammate brings a more explosive, pace-driven profile to that position compared to Doue, whose strengths lie more in technical ability and creativity in tight spaces.

With Lamine Yamal typically cutting inside for Spain, Porro pushes forward aggressively with constant overlapping runs and has even appeared in advanced positions, as evidenced by his goal against Austria in the Round of 32. While both Doué and Barcola offer defensive tracking, it is the former Olympique Lyonnais forward who poses the greater threat in transition and gives Porro more to think about defensively.

Barcola has featured in all six of France’s games at this World Cup, averaging 47 minutes per appearance and contributing two goals and one assist. His pace and directness fit Deschamps’ plan of sitting back and exploiting the space Spain tends to leave in behind their high defensive line.

Tchouameni also returns to France’s starting lineup

A persistent hamstring issue has kept Aurelien Tchouameni out of the lineup since the Round of 32 against Sweden. Manu Kone stepped in admirably during his absence alongside Adrien Rabiot and delivered convincing performances, but Deschamps has opted to restore the Real Madrid midfielder now that he is fit.

Tchouameni serves as vice-captain for Les Bleus and brings a defensive balance to the midfield that has been a constant for France since the 2022 World Cup. With the biggest match of the tournament so far on the horizon, Deschamps is wasting no time reintegrating him into the starting eleven.

The 3-1 scoreline at Arrowhead Stadium was flattering. Argentina struggled for long stretches playing eleven against eleven, and it took Breel Embolo’s red card and an extra-time comeback to seal the result. England, ranked fourth in the FIFA Rankings, represent the toughest opponent Argentina have faced in the entire 2026 World Cup, and Scaloni appears to recognize that adjustments are necessary.

On Monday, Argentina held their final training session in Kansas City at the Compass Mineral Center before departing for Atlanta. The AFA’s official report noted that the squad “focused on possession drills, recovery after turnovers, and attacking progression,” closing the session with small-sided games.

Argentina to hold the system

According to Diario Ole‘s Hernan Claus, an insider close to the Argentina national team, Scaloni has been working between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2, consistent with the formations used throughout the tournament. However, with the current group of starters struggling to find the right balance, the coach experimented with several personnel changes in key positions during Monday’s session.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios featured in the starting lineup for part of the training session, offering a ball-retention profile in midfield that Argentina lacked against Switzerland. Giuliano Simeone also got some minutes, providing a wider, more direct option down the flank as an alternative to the more technical Mac Allister-Fernandez-Paredes-De Paul setup Scaloni has favored.

The right back position also saw rotation, with both Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel cycling through the role as they have done throughout the tournament, with neither player having done enough to make the spot their own.

According to the Argentine outlet, nine players appear close to certain starters against England: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi, and Julian Alvarez. Of those who started against Switzerland, Rodrigo De Paul and Nahuel Molina appear most at risk of losing their places.

Scaloni considering a 5-3-2 system?

One of the more significant possibilities reported by Diario Ole is a switch to a 5-3-2 for the England semifinal. In Monday’s session, Scaloni trialed a back three of Nicolas Otamendi, Cristián Romero, and Lisandro Martinez, with Molina and Simeone as right wing backs, Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez on the left, a midfield three of De Paul, Fernandez, and Mac Allister, and Messi and Alvarez as the two forwards.

It would not be the first time Scaloni has made such a tactical shift under pressure, having deployed a similar approach in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands, a match Argentina controlled for long stretches despite finishing 2-2. The final decision is expected to come after Tuesday’s training session in Atlanta, but one thing already appears clear: Scaloni will not be sending out the same lineup that started against Egypt or Switzerland.

Messi and Mbappe are the undisputed headliners, both leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals apiece and sitting first and second on the all-time World Cup scoring chart with 21 and 20 goals respectively. But Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have surged into contention with six goals each and two matches remaining, making the race for the tournament’s top scorer genuinely wide open heading into the final two rounds.

Beyond the strikers, players who arrived in form have carried that momentum into the competition, with Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise standing out as examples. The statistical breakdown across the four semifinalists tells an interesting story, with some categories spread across multiple contributors and others entirely dominated by a single name.

Spain

Lamine Yamal remains Spain’s marquee name, but the Barcelona star has not yet hit his ceiling at this tournament, still working his way back from the hamstring injury that disrupted his buildup. Despite that, Spain have been the most defensively disciplined side in the competition, conceding just once across six matches, with their output spread across a deep and balanced squad.

• Most Goals: Mikel Oyarzabal (4).
• Most Assists: Marc Cucurella (2).
• Most Key Passes (p90): Pedro Porro (2.3)
• Most Successful Dribbles (p90): Lamine Yamal (3.5).
• Most Big Chances Created: Marc Cucurella (3).

France

Mbappe is once again the driving force for Les Bleus, replicating his 2022 World Cup form with eight goals. But France have shown genuine balance this time around, with a solid defensive foundation complemented by clinical contributions from Dembele and Olise alongside their captain.

• Most Goals: Kylian Mbappe (8).
• Most Assists: Michael Olise (5).
• Most Key Passes (p90): Kylian Mbappe (2.7).
• Most Successful Dribbles (p90): Michael Olise (2.5).
• Most Big Chances Created: Michael Olise (5).

England

Under Thomas Tuchel, England have been built around two players to a degree rarely seen at a major tournament. Kane and Bellingham account for 12 of England’s 13 goals in the competition, and while that level of dependency carries risk, a supporting cast featuring key contributors has allowed both stars to thrive.

• Most Goals: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (6)
• Most Assists: Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka (3).
• Most Key Passes (p90): Declan Rice (2.6).
• Most Successful Dribbles (p90): Jude Bellingham (2).
• Most Big Chances Created: Jude Bellingham, Noni Madueke, and Declan Rice (3).

Argentina

The defending champions have been far from convincing as a collective, relying more on spirit and resilience than on controlled, dominant performances. But with a 39-year-old Lionel Messi producing some of the most complete individual displays of any player in the tournament, Argentina have navigated every obstacle and remain unbeaten in World Cup semifinals.

• Most Goals: Lionel Messi (8).
• Most Assists: Lionel Messi (2).
• Most Key Passes (p90): Lionel Messi (3.7).
• Most Successful Dribbles (p90): Lionel Messi (2.5).
• Most Big Chances Created: Lionel Messi (6).

On Sunday, the day after both semifinalists secured their quarterfinal victories, TyC Sports journalist and Argentina insider Gaston Edul reported that the Albiceleste national team had submitted a request to Argentina Football Association (AFA) FIFA to wear their navy blue away kit against the Three Lions.

With England designated as Team A and Argentina as Team B for the semifinal, Argentina were already slated to wear the blue kit by default, but England retained the option to request a change if they wished. Argentina’s formal submission was made to remove any doubt and lock in the choice. The request was approved, with England wearing white and Argentina taking the field in navy blue.

The reason behind Argentina’s blue kit request

The decision was driven by the blue kit’s remarkable record in Argentina’s World Cup history against England, a jersey associated with some of the most iconic moments in the rivalry and treated by the Albiceleste as a powerful good omen.

The most legendary chapter came at the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, a 2-1 victory that produced both Diego Maradona’s Hand of God and his Goal of the Century. The blue kit delivered again in the 1998 Round of 16, a match remembered for David Beckham’s red card following a clash with Diego Simeone, with Argentina advancing via penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.

The 2026 World Cup in Atlanta will mark the fourth time Argentina wear the blue navy kit against England. The first was at Chile 1962, a 3-1 group stage defeat. Notably, the two times Argentina have worn the traditional white and light blue against England in the World Cup, they lost both, 1-0 in the 1966 quarterfinals and 1-0 in the 2002 group stage.

One last positive omen for England

While the blue kit holds a strong record in World Cup encounters between these two nations, the most recent head-to-head in that jersey offers England some encouragement. The last time Argentina wore navy blue against the Three Lions was on November 10th, 2005, and England came away with a 3-2 win.

Argentina dominated possession and led 2-1 heading into the final ten minutes, with goals from Hernán Crespo and Walter Samuel against Wayne Rooney’s reply. But Michael Owen had other ideas, leveling in the 86th minute before completing the turnaround in stoppage time to hand England the victory, albeit in a friendly rather than a competitive fixture.

Yamal has already made France suffer on multiple occasions, scoring the equalizer in the Euro 2024 semifinal and netting twice in the Nations League semifinal. Now 19, he faces Les Bleus once again at the semifinal stage, this time at a World Cup, with the head-to-head record firmly in his favor.

Yet when asked about how France plans to handle the Barcelona star, Rabiot was straightforward. “There is no anti-Yamal plan. We’re focused on the Spanish team. No, we’re not focusing on one player, we know they are dangerous in every aspect, whether it’s him or the forwards in possession of the ball, attacking the tight spaces near the box, the combination play,” he said at Monday’s press conference.

Spain rank sixth in the tournament in goals scored with 11, but have conceded just once, and sit second among the four semifinalists in shots on target behind only France, reflecting a team that wins through collective effort rather than individual brilliance. “So we need to stay focused on that, not necessarily on one individual,” the AC Milan midfielder added.

Yamal had already turned up the heat after Spain’s win over Belgium, declaring: “I think that if France has to fear anyone, it’s us, as we’re the ones who have knocked them out before.” Those words appear to have landed with the French camp, who will now be looking to eliminate Spain for the first time in three years after falling short in both the Euro and the Nations League.

Yamal’s 2026 World Cup so far

Yamal has been one of Spain’s most important players in both the Euro and the Nations League, but his first World Cup has not yet seen him reach those same heights. Despite featuring in all six of Spain’s matches, with limited involvement against Cape Verde, he has managed just one goal against Saudi Arabia and has yet to register an assist.

By comparison, he contributed one goal and four assists across seven games at Euro 2024, and three goals and one assist in seven games during the 2024-25 Nations League. The serious injury he suffered at Barcelona before the tournament may still be a factor, and despite being nearly a month removed from his return to the pitch, his sharpest form has remained elusive.

Currently, Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spain’s scoring chart with four goals, while Marc Cucurella tops the assists list with two. The semifinal against France represents Yamal’s best opportunity yet to announce himself on the World Cup stage.

The Argentina-England rivalry runs deep, with 14 previous meetings between the nations and a history of tension that extends well beyond the sport. Yet despite making his international debut in August 2005, Messi has never shared a field with England, and the one opportunity he had slipped away under unusual circumstances.

On November 12, 2005, Argentina and England met in a friendly in Switzerland ahead of the 2006 World Cup. Messi was part of the squad but was serving a one-game FIFA suspension following the red card he received on his debut against Hungary, forcing him to watch from the sidelines as Argentina fell 3-2 in what would have been his first taste of the rivalry.

Now, 24 years after their last World Cup meeting, a 1-0 England win in 2002, the two nations meet again on soccer’s biggest stage. With Argentina holding a record of just one win, one draw, and three defeats against England historically, Messi will be looking to tip the balance in the Albiceleste‘s favor.

Messi’s record against World Cup champions

Brazil

In arguably the fiercest rivalry in the sport, Messi has faced Brazil 14 times in the Argentina shirt. His most significant win came in the 2021 Copa America final, and his most recent appearance in the fixture came during the 2023 World Cup qualifying campaign. The overall record is about as even as it gets.

• 14 games.
• 5 goals.
• 0 assists.
• 6 wins.
• 2 draws.
• 6 losses.

France

Messi has faced France three times, twice in the World Cup and once in a friendly, and has consistently delivered in those moments. The record remains level, with the 2022 World Cup final standing as the defining encounter between the two sides.

• 3 games.
• 3 goals.
• 2 assists.
• 1 win.
• 1 draw.
• 1 loss.

Germany

Germany has historically been one of Argentina’s most difficult opponents, and Messi’s personal record reflects that. Both of Die Mannschaft‘s wins came in the World Cup, most painfully in the 2014 final in Brazil.

• 4 games.
• 1 goals.
• 0 assists.
• 2 wins.
• 0 draws.
• 2 losses.

Italy

Messi has faced Italy only once, in the 2022 Finalissima, and made his presence felt with two assists as Argentina claimed the unofficial title. It stands as one of the few World Cup champions where Messi holds an unblemished record.

• 1 game.
• 0 goals.
• 2 assists.
• 1 win.

Spain

All three of Messi’s meetings with Spain have come in international friendlies, with no World Cup crossovers. The most memorable of those came when a reigning world champion Spanish side was dismantled 4-1 by Argentina.

• 3 games.
• 2 goals.
• 0 assists.
• 1 wins.
• 0 draws.
• 2 losses.

Uruguay

Uruguay is Messi’s most favorable matchup among World Cup champions, with a commanding head-to-head record built largely through competitive fixtures. The most recent meeting, however, went La Celeste’s way with a 2-0 win on Argentine soil in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.

• 13 games.
• 6 goals.
• 3 assists.
• 8 wins.
• 3 draws.
• 2 losses.

Speaking on the FIFA Podcast on YouTube, the former Chelsea captain argued that Argentina should hold no fear for the Three Lions: “I’m not worried with Argentina. I don’t look at Argentina and I see it kind of worried about them being better than us. I think man-for-man we’re better than Argentina.“

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have been England‘s standout performers with six goals apiece, while Argentina’s attack has leaned heavily on Messi to provide the spark. As a broader measure of squad quality, Transfermarkt values England’s World Cup roster at €1.36 billion, with Bellingham leading the way at €130 million, compared to Argentina’s €807 million squad valuation, with Julian Alvarez’s €100 million price tag the highest on their books.

Terry did acknowledge, however, that squad value does not tell the whole story. Despite England’s edge on paper, he conceded that Argentina’s experience in deep tournament runs at the World Cup and Copa América could prove decisive. “But the experience they have at these later stages in the competition could kind of serve them well,” he concluded.

Only Kane, John Stones, Jordan Pickford, and Marcus Rashford remain from the England squad that reached the 2018 World Cup semifinals, where they fell 2-1 to Croatia. Argentina, by contrast, have won their last four major finals, including the Finalissima against Italy, and that battle-hardened core represents one of the biggest challenges England’s less experienced players will face in the later stages of a major tournament.

Terry speaks out over Messi

At 39 years old, Messi has once again proven to be Argentina’s driving force, particularly with the rest of the attack struggling to contribute consistently. Of Argentina’s 17 goals in the tournament, eight have come from Messi, and despite going scoreless against Switzerland, he delivered an assist that moved him to the top of the competition’s assists chart.

Terry had nothing but admiration when the conversation turned to the Argentine captain: “He will be one of the top players that kind of turn up on the big occasions, and he certainly does that. When you look at them against Egypt and you think they’re out, but with him on your side, when you got someone like that, I can only compare that to a Hazard at Chelsea.“

The former England defender went on to describe Messi’s effect on Argentina as a whole. “When you always know you’re in with a chance of coming back in the game, whether you go 1-0 or 2-0 down, and these guys are just incredible and he’s that for Argentina,” Terry said.

Barcelona have been among the most active clubs in the summer transfer window, even with the 2026 World Cup still underway, securing Anthony Gordon and now closing in on Adeyemi. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for €22 million plus up to €7 million in add-ons tied to appearances and title bonuses.

Speaking to reporters in Dallas, where he traveled to attend the World Cup semifinal between France and Spain, Laporta was enthusiastic when asked about the Adeyemi deal: “We are very excited about Adeyemi. We’ve liked him for a while now. He is dangerous and fast, and the signing was handled very well by Deco. The news came out exactly when it was supposed to.“

What about Raphinha?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Al Hilal have expressed interest in signing Raphinha, who has been a target for Saudi clubs for some time. While the Brazilian’s preference is to remain at Barcelona, the club’s aggressive spending in the attacking positions signals a rebuild that will likely require departures.

Laporta, however, was unequivocal when asked about Raphinha’s future. “Raphinha is going to stay. We have absolutely no interest in him leaving Barca. He is a mainstay. With Gordon and Adeyemi, I see that we are reinforcing the attack, but that doesn’t mean we are going to part ways with Raphinha, who is key for us,” the president said.

Laporta also reflected on Raphinha’s 2025-26 season, which fell short of the standards he set the year before when he was among the Ballon d’Or contenders. “The shame about last season is that he wasn’t able to be at full capacity during that final stretch of the League, Champions League, and Copa. The results would have been different,” he added.

With Marcus Rashford now expected not to return, Barcelona’s attacking roster remains heavily stocked. Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres, Rony Bardghji, Gordon, and Adeyemi all compete for positions across the wing and attacking midfield roles, and with the club still navigating a difficult financial situation, outgoings this summer appear inevitable.

Kylian Mbappe is chasing history once again, looking to reach his third consecutive World Cup final with his goal tally sitting at 20, just one behind Lionel Messi’s all-time record of 21. A commanding 2-0 win over Morocco sent Les Bleus through in what has been a near-flawless tournament run under Didier Deschamps.

On the other side, Lamine Yamal will be turning 19 ahead of the match, looking to cap a historic first World Cup. Spain arrive having claimed Euro 2024, though they fell short in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, and will be hunting a second World Cup star to add to their 2010 triumph in South Africa. The semifinal sets up compelling head-to-head battles across every position on the field.

GK: Mike Maignan vs Unai Simon

Mike Maignan has established himself as Hugo Lloris’s successor between the posts for France, and while he has not been tested frequently, he has responded with crucial saves when called upon. Unai Simon, meanwhile, has set a remarkable record, going 649 minutes without conceding in this World Cup, surpassing Italy’s Walter Zenga as the goalkeeper with the most consecutive minutes without a goal allowed in the competition’s history.

RB: Jules Kounde vs Pedro Porro

Jules Kounde has retained his place as France’s starting right back since the 2022 World Cup, taking on a more disciplined defensive role with the national team than he typically plays at Barcelona. Pedro Porro, meanwhile, has been one of Spain‘s most dynamic contributors going forward, capping his tournament with his first international goal in the group stage win over Austria.

RCB: Dayot Upamecano vs Pau Cubarsi

Dayot Upamecano has been a cornerstone of France’s defense since the 2022 World Cup, combining physical dominance with composure on the ball. Pau Cubarsi, despite his youth, has been one of the most technically gifted center backs in the tournament, ranking among the leaders in key passes per game from the heart of Spain’s backline.

LCB: William Saliba vs Aymeric Laporte

William Saliba barely featured at the 2022 World Cup, but with Raphaël Varane retired, the Arsenal defender has stepped into the role of one of the world’s best, having also reached the UEFA Champions League final during the 2025-26 club season. Aymeric Laporte made his way back into the Spain squad after missing the Nations League Final Four and has formed a commanding partnership with Cubarsí at the back.

LB: Lucas Digne vs Marc Cucurella

Lucas Digne began the tournament as a backup behind Théo Hernández, but his technical quality and clinical left foot have earned him the starting spot under Deschamps, a role he also impressed in while helping Aston Villa win the Europa League. Marc Cucurella, on the other hand, is firmly established as one of the best left backs in the world, having recently completed a high-profile move to Real Madrid from Chelsea.

CDM: Manu Kone vs Rodri

Manu Kone stepped into a more defensive midfield role with France amid Aurelien Tchouaméni’s fitness struggles and has responded with composure and character despite not being a first-choice starter coming into the tournament. Rodri, by contrast, is widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders on the planet and leads all players in this World Cup with 99.5 completed passes per game.

CDM: Adrien Rabiot vs Pedri

Adrien Rabiot has been a consistent presence in France’s midfield since the 2022 edition, bringing a physically imposing box-to-box profile that bridges the gap between defense and attack. Pedri is an entirely different kind of player, a creative force who is nearly impossible to dispossess and has a knack for unlocking defenses with incisive through balls.

CAM: Michael Olise vs Dani Olmo

Michael Olise has been one of the breakout performers of the tournament after a stellar 2025-26 season at Bayern Munich, and his transition to a more central role for France has been seamless, with five assists leading all players at this World Cup. Dani Olmo operates in the space behind the striker, combining intelligent forward runs into the box with the technical quality to finish chances.

RW: Ousmane Dembele vs Lamine Yamal

Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, has backed up his Champions League triumph with a dominant World Cup, contributing five goals and two assists as one of France’s most dangerous attackers. Yamal, who finished as Ballon d’Or runner-up, arrived at the tournament still working his way back from a significant injury and has not yet hit his ceiling, with just one goal to his name against Saudi Arabia.

ST: Kylian Mbappe vs Mikel Oyarzabal

Mbappe has reaffirmed that the World Cup is the stage where he thrives most, already at eight goals in this edition and 20 for his career at just 27 years old, with history firmly within his reach. Mikel Oyarzabal is not a traditional number nine, but the Real Sociedad forward has been one of La Roja’s most effective weapons, using his sharp movement and technique to drag defenders out of position and create space for teammates.

LW: Desire Doue vs Alex Baena

Desire Doue has emerged as one of PSG’s most exciting young talents and carried that form onto the international stage, combining elite dribbling ability with explosive pace on France’s left flank. Alex Baena has stepped into a starting role on the opposite side for Spain, bringing creativity and unpredictability in the absence of a fully fit Nico Williams.

Romero had already been managing a recurring issue with his right knee earlier in the tournament, but recovered to start against Cape Verde and play through extra time against Egypt. Against Switzerland, however, he was forced off at halftime of extra time, with cameras catching him in visible discomfort on the turf.

Paredes faced a similar situation, earning his place in Argentina‘s starting lineup before being seen limping in the second half of extra time following a defensive clearance. He signaled to the bench to be replaced, exiting in the 110th minute for forward Jose Manuel Lopez, who immediately made an impact by assisting Julian Alvarez’s decisive 2-1 goal.

According to TyC Sports journalist and Argentina insider Gaston Edul, both Romero and Paredes will be available for Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against England. Both players came off with cramps rather than structural injuries, and the minor nature of the discomfort means neither is expected to miss training ahead of the match.

Lionel Messi also raised concern

Beyond the two substitutions, cameras also picked up a cut around Lionel Messi’s eye, sustained from a challenge by Granit Xhaka in the second half and requiring medical attention on the sideline.

Despite the pain, Messi played the full 120 minutes and was spotted in the mixed zone afterward with his vision partially affected by the swelling. The cut has since been treated and is not expected to pose any concern ahead of the England game.

Paredes on Switzerland’s red card

Paredes was also at the center of one of the match’s most controversial moments, when referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked the wrong player before correcting himself and sending off the Swiss player who was already on a yellow card after Breel Embolo appeared to simulate a foul. For Paredes, the call was straightforward.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Paredes was direct when asked about the incident: “I don’t see where the controversy is. The rules are clear. The opposing player simulated, I didn’t touch him. The decision was correctly made.”

Tipped to challenge Spain for top spot in Group H, Uruguay’s campaign collapsed under the weight of a defeat to La Roja and back-to-back draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, with the latter one advancing as the second-placed team in the group. Following one of the most stunning early exits in recent Uruguayan football history, Bielsa announced his resignation at a lengthy press conference, leaving the position open.

Uruguay Football Federation president Ignacio Alonso confirmed the development in an interview with Teledoce: “If an agreement is reached with Diego Forlan in the coming hours, he will be the coach of the Under-20 national team and for the upcoming friendly matches. He is enthusiastic, although there are still a few details left to finalize.“

The original plan had been for Forlan to take charge of the Uruguay Under-20 side ahead of the South American Championship in January 2027. With AUF elections scheduled for later this year, however, committing to a long-term senior project was not a viable option for either party.

Given those circumstances, Forlan will serve as interim head coach of the senior national team until March 2027. Whether the arrangement is extended beyond that point will depend entirely on the AUF and whoever holds the federation presidency following the elections.

Within that window, Forlan, Uruguay’s third all-time leading scorer with 36 goals and an icon of the country’s memorable 2010 World Cup run, will oversee the September, October, and November international windows, which include 2030 World Cup qualifying fixtures, as well as March 2027 friendlies. In total, the former Manchester United and Villarreal forward will be in charge for eight matches.

Forlan on Uruguay’s World Cup

Heading into the World Cup, the expectation was that Spain and Uruguay would battle it out for top spot in Group H, with second place likely leading to a Round of 32 clash against Argentina. Instead, just two points from three games sent La Celeste home without even qualifying as one of the best third-placed nations.

Forlan has had two previous spells in senior management, taking charge of 11 matches at Peñarol in 2020 and 12 at Atenas de San Carlos in the Uruguayan Second Division in 2021. But when asked about replacing Bielsa during an appearance on La Casa del Kun, the ESPN show hosted by Sergio Agüero, the former forward did not hesitate: “Sure, of course I’d go. Do you have any idea how fast I’d accept?“

Beyond his eagerness to take the job, Forlan was candid about the state of the national team, suggesting the problems ran deeper than the tournament itself: “I prefer a Uruguayan coach, because we have them, although I didn’t dislike the choice of Bielsa. Given where we stand right now, it’s not the time to be tossing around names. Unfortunately, we were already coming in with internal problems; we didn’t arrive in the best shape.”

As the elimination sank in, Alfie Haaland, who was in the stands at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his displeasure. Responding to a Fabrizio Romano post highlighting Jude Bellingham‘s match-winning brace, he kept it short and pointed: “Well done Bellingham and referee.”

He followed that up by responding to a post from journalist Henry Winter, going further with his criticism. “Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today,” he wrote, making clear his belief that referee Clement Turpin had played a significant role in Norway’s elimination.

The controversies of England vs Norway

Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway the lead in the 36th minute, but Jude Bellingham had other ideas, equalizing in the 47th minute before completing the comeback with a goal in the 93rd minute of extra time to send England through.

The World Cup match was far from free of controversy, however. Turpin disallowed a Norway goal from Torbjorn Heggem in the 57th minute, with the score still level at 1-1, ruling that Haaland had fouled Elliot Anderson off the ball, ordering the corner to be retaken.

A second flashpoint emerged after the final whistle, with questions raised over whether the ball had struck an overhead wire in the buildup to Bellingham’s equalizer. FIFA issued a statement confirming that the ball’s contact sensor registered no impact with the wire, but Norway’s camp remained unconvinced by the explanation.

At his post-match press conference, head coach Ståle Solbakken relayed what his players had told him about the incident: “I can’t say anything about that because FIFA. If there’s no been no sound or there has been no (reading) in the chip, what can I say against that? But the ball drops down straight from heaven says everyone, including Orjan (Nyland), who is the goalie, including the guy who is going to receive the ball. I saw another way just then, so I wonder also what happened. I think it’s pretty clear that it did and it was a strange thing.“

Fresh off Spain’s win over Belgium, Yamal wasted no time setting the tone for the semifinal: “If anyone should be afraid, it’s them—we’ve eliminated them. We are two great teams, for me the two best, but we have absolutely no fear. Since the World Cup started, everyone has been waiting for this game, and I really wanted it to get here. We are the two best national teams in the World Cup. With absolutely no fear, if anyone can go into a match against France with confidence, it’s us.“

The Barcelona teenager was also pointing to recent history, with Spain having beaten France in both the Euro 2024 semifinal and the 2025 Nations League final. The margins were tight each time, 2-1 and 5-4 respectively, but the results went Spain’s way on both occasions, and now the two sides meet again at the same stage of a major tournament.

Konate replies to Yamal

While Yamal is experiencing his first World Cup, several of his French opponents are either already world champions from 2018 or carry the memory of falling short in the 2022 final. Konate belongs to the latter group, and he responded to the Spanish teenager’s remarks with measured firmness.

Speaking Sunday at a press conference at Bentley University, Konate was asked whether France were intimidated by Yamal’s words: “No, no, no… In all honesty, we don’t listen to what’s being said. You shouldn’t be afraid of anyone; we need to remain humble and not fall into that trap, especially at this stage of the competition.“

The newly minted Real Madrid defender, who will face Yamal as a club rival in La Liga next season, closed with a pointed message of his own. “Now, he can say whatever he wants, we are going to try to prepare the best we can. And at the end of the match, we’ll see who it favors,” Konate added.

France’s record against Spain

Over the past decade, France and Spain have established themselves as two of the most dominant nations in world soccer, neither dropping out of the FIFA top 10 throughout that stretch. In head-to-head meetings, however, Spain has had the upper hand when it mattered most.

The two sides have met four times in the last ten years, with Spain winning three of those encounters to France’s one. Les Bleus’ lone victory came in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, a 2-1 win, while Spain’s most recent triumph in that 2017 friendly, 2-0, completed the overall picture in their favor.

Since Yamal’s arrival in the Spanish setup, La Roja has extended that dominance, beating France in both the Euro 2024 semifinal and the 2025 Nations League final. Adding to France’s concern is Yamal’s personal record in head-to-head elimination games against Kylian Mbappe, with the young winger having won all five of their meetings in knockout competition.

France opened the quarterfinal round on Thursday with a commanding 2-0 win over Morocco, followed by Spain edging Belgium 2-1 on Friday. Saturday closed out the bracket, with England defeating Norway 2-1 and Argentina dispatching Switzerland 3-1.

While the sport’s heavyweights tend to advance deep into the tournament, this marks the first time in 23 editions of the World Cup that the four semifinalists are all ranked inside the top four of the FIFA Rankings. Despite some shuffling of positions throughout the competition, all four nations remained within that elite group both before and after each update.

FIFA Ranking positions prior to World Cup

1. Argentina: 1877.27 points.
2. Spain: 1874.71 points.
3. France: 1870.70 points.
4. England: 1828.02 points.

FIFA Ranking’s Top 4 after latest update

1. France: 1948.97 points.
2. Argentina: 1943.47 points.
3. Spain: 1934.79 points.
4. England: 1889.42 points.

No new World Cup champion in 2026

With the semifinal pairings set as France vs Spain and England vs Argentina, the stakes could not be higher. One thing, however, is already guaranteed: this World Cup will not produce a first-time champion, a rare occurrence in the competition’s history.

With all four remaining nations being former world champions, this will be just the third time in World Cup history that every semifinalist has previously lifted the trophy. The only other editions where that was the case were 1970, featuring Brazil, Italy, West Germany, and Uruguay, and 1990, with Argentina, West Germany, Italy, and England.

In his post-match interview, Scaloni was honest about the difficulties Argentina faced at Arrowhead Stadium: “The truth is that today we suffered. We knew they were a very physical team, and we weren’t able to get out of certain situations. We have to be realistic, we need to be better.“

He also took a moment to acknowledge the significance of reaching another semifinal, while quickly shifting focus to what lies ahead. “It is historic. It doesn’t matter whether it’s England or Norway, we are going to face a team that has a great coach. Now we need to recover. That is the important thing,” he concluded.

Scaloni also reflected on how the red card changed the game for Argentina, stating that “the luck was on our side tonight” since from that moment, the team recovered the momentum and the spaces to attack once again.

Scaloni also highlighted the turning point for his team being in the 72nd minute, when Breel Embolo got sent off with his second yellow card. The action came after the “mistaken identity” protocol was triggered, with referee Joao Pinheiro overturning his decision, removing the yellow card from Leandro Paredes and then sending off the Swiss player in a controversial play.

Julian Alvarez on the win

With the match locked in a stalemate, Alvarez broke the deadlock with a stunning finish into the top corner to make it 2-1 in extra time for Argentina, and put Switzerland on the back foot. Lautaro Martinez then added a third to put the result beyond doubt.

Reflecting on his first goal of the 2026 World Cup, Alvarez was visibly emotional: “Very happy! We kept trying until the end; things got difficult. There is always a lot of talk, but we have to focus on our own things, on what we do day to day. The group is in a good place, now it’s time to rest and think about the next one. We would have preferred to win it earlier, but we know it’s not easy. There are two more left and we are going to go for it all.“

With England trailing 1-0 after Andreas Schjelderup’s opener, Bellingham found the equalizing goal in the 45+2 minute after a great control from an Anthony Gordon pass to get inside the box and kick with his left foot. In extra time, he completed the comeback by pouncing on a rebound after Orjan Nyland failed to hold a Morgan Rogers effort, sending the Three Lions through.

The brace brought Bellingham’s career World Cup tally to seven goals, matching the mark Pele had set at the same age and underlining his remarkable productivity in the competition with plenty of years still ahead of him.

In this tournament alone, Bellingham has now scored six times. Alongside the brace against Norway, he found the back of the net twice in two minutes against Mexico in the Round of 16, and added one goal each in the group stage wins over Croatia and Panama.

His World Cup account was opened at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, where he was part of Gareth Southgate’s squad representing England out of Borussia Dortmund. He scored just once in that campaign, against Iran in the group stage opener, but that solitary goal now forms part of a seven-goal haul that has him in elite company.

Mbappe the only one standing above

Bellingham’s achievement is all the more remarkable given that he is a midfielder, not a natural goalscorer, yet the only player to have found the net more times in the World Cup at age 23 or younger is Kylian Mbappe, who leads the category with 12 goals.

Mbappe announced himself on the World Cup stage at just 19 in Russia 2018, scoring four goals including one in the group stage, two against Argentina in the Round of 16, and one in the final against Croatia. He then raised the bar further in Qatar 2022, adding eight more through the group stage, a brace against Poland in the Round of 16, and a stunning hat trick in the final, again against Argentina.

Manzambi has been ruled out of the quarterfinal against Argentina due to a knee injury. The Swiss midfielder picked up the problem during a training session that kept him out of the Colombia match, and he has been unable to recover in time to face the Albiceleste, with head coach Murat Yakin leaving him off the substitution bench entirely.

Yakin addressed the situation at Friday’s press conference, acknowledging the efforts made to get him ready: “We tried everything that we could to get him back, unfortunately, he’s unable to perform tomorrow.”

He issued an update on the player’s status, and how the team is affected over his absence. “Johan Manzambi is in ​a lot of pain. It was a shock to all of us. This momentum was on his side, and there is so much ​joy when he plays football,” Yakin concluded.

In his absence, Switzerland will line up with Dan Ndoye and Fabian Rieder on the flanks, while Djibril Sow steps into the attacking midfield role Manzambi would have occupied behind striker Breel Embolo.

Manzambi, Switzerland’s breakout star of the 2026 World Cup

Manzambi began the World Cup on the bench but quickly forced his way into Yakin’s plans with a series of eye-catching performances. He scored a brace in the 4-1 group stage win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, then added a goal and an assist in the 2-1 victory over Canada, contributing to both goals.

He carried that form into the Round of 32, providing the assist for Breel Embolo’s opener in a 2-0 win over Algeria. The knee injury brought his remarkable run to a halt, ruling him out of both the Colombia quarterfinal qualifier and now the match against Argentina.

His performances have already had a tangible impact on his career, however. According to The Athletic, Newcastle United and Freiburg have reached an agreement for the midfielder to join the Premier League side in a deal worth in the region of £50 million ($67 million).

Lionel Messi has been included in the starting lineup against Switzerland. Having played every minute of every game at this World Cup, including the full 90 against Egypt, the Inter Miami star is fit and available with no concerns heading into the quarterfinal.

Argentina arrive on the back of one of the most dramatic moments of the tournament, completing a 3-2 comeback against Egypt that began in the 79th minute, the latest in World Cup history. Switzerland, meanwhile, advanced through a penalty shootout against Colombia after 120 goalless minutes.

La Nati also provide Argentina with a favorable omen. The two sides last met at the 2014 World Cup, when the Albiceleste edged them 1-0 in the Round of 16, and Switzerland hold the added distinction of being the first team against whom Messi scored a hat trick in an Argentina shirt. With five wins and two draws in the all-time head-to-head, the Europeans will be eager to finally end that streak.

Scaloni fields an unchanged lineup

Throughout his successful tenure, Lionel Scaloni has consistently tailored his lineups to specific opponents, rarely naming the same starting XI in back-to-back matches. Against Switzerland, however, that pattern will be broken.

At Friday’s press conference, Scaloni left the door open for an unchanged side: “Well, I’ve already done that a few times. It wouldn’t be crazy if I field the same team, just as it wouldn’t be crazy if there’s a change or two. In principle, they would play very similarly to the other day. Beyond how crazy the match turned out to be, in terms of the actual play, the team did some very good things. I liked it.“

Confirmed lineups for Argentina and Switzerland

Argentina’s confirmed lineup (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
Head coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Switzerland’s confirmed lineup (4-2-3-1): Gregor Kobel; Denis Zakaria, Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka; Fabian Rieder, Djibril Sow, Dan Ndoye; Breel Embolo.
Head coach: Murat Yakin

FIFA has announced that the tribute is being held in honor of Jayden Adams, the South African footballer who participated in this World Cup and passed away on Saturday, July 11th, after returning to his home country.

FIFA’s official statement confirmed the protocol: “M99 (Norway-England) and M100 (Argentina-Switzerland): a minute of silence will be observed in both matches in memory of Jayden Adams, who unfortunately passed away at the age of 25. The South African midfielder made his FIFA World Cup debut during this tournament, playing three matches as Bafana Bafana qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in their history.”

A midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns, who featured in the most recent FIFA Club World Cup, Adams earned his place in the national team through his performances at club level. The news of his passing broke on Saturday morning, with the cause of death not yet made public.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute on social media: “It’s so incredibly sad to hear that South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has passed away just weeks after featuring in his nation’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign. My thoughts and condolences, as well as those of everyone at FIFA and the global football community, are with his family, friends and teammates. The Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace.“

Jayden Adams at the 2026 World Cup

Adams was part of South Africa’s starting lineup for the tournament opener against Mexico, one of the most anticipated games of the opening round. He was substituted off in the 61st minute for Themba Zwane in a match that ended in a 2-0 defeat for Bafana Bafana.

Before the second group game against Czechia, Adams received the devastating news that his grandmother, Marianna, had passed away. He chose to play through the grief, starting the match before being taken off at halftime in a game that finished 1-1.

For the final group stage fixture against South Korea, Adams came on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 victory that sealed South Africa’s place in the Round of 32. Their knockout run ended there, falling 1-0 to Canada in a match Adams did not feature in, bringing his World Cup to a close in what would prove to be the final chapter of his life.

Nusa has been dropped from the starting XI by head coach Stale Solbakken following an underwhelming performance in the Round of 16 against Brazil. The RB Leipzig winger was unable to make his mark on that match, and Solbakken has decided to make a change on the left flank as a result.

Andreas Schjelderup gets the nod in his place. The Benfica forward was the standout substitute against Brazil, coming off the bench to deliver two assists for Erling Haaland and effectively deciding the match, a showing that has earned him a start against England.

Nusa had been a near-permanent fixture in Solbakken’s starting lineup throughout the tournament, with his only substitute appearance coming in the group stage against France, when qualification was already secured and rotation was expected. But his exit at halftime against Brazil opened the door for Schjelderup, who made the most of his opportunity and has not looked back.

Nusa could miss an eventual semifinal

His place on the bench is not necessarily a long-term concern, as Solbakken regularly rotates his attacking line and Nusa is likely to see minutes at some point against England. The more pressing issue, however, is the disciplinary risk he carries into this match.

Nusa is the only Norway player currently one booking away from a suspension, having been shown a yellow card in the Round of 32 against Ivory Coast. A caution against England would rule him out of a potential World Cup semifinal against either Switzerland or Argentina.

James will not start after suffering a hamstring strain that has kept him sidelined for much of the tournament. Although he was able to take part in Friday’s training session, Tuchel has decided against rushing him back into the starting XI, unwilling to risk a setback in a quarterfinal.

Spence, meanwhile, has also been managing a minor injury that caused him to miss training sessions in the buildup to the Round of 16 against Mexico. He was able to contribute some minutes off the bench in that match, but remains short of full fitness and is not ready to start.

With both recognized options unavailable, Tuchel has turned to Ezri Konsa at right back to face Norway. While the Aston Villa defender has primarily been used as a center back at club and international level, he did cover the right back role earlier in his career, and Tuchel is now calling on that experience to fill one of England’s most pressing positional gaps.

England’s right back headache

The problems at right back actually predate the tournament itself. Tino Livramento was ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a calf injury in training back in June, with Tuchel bringing in Trevoh Chalobah as a replacement, confident that the position was otherwise well covered.

That confidence was quickly tested. Reece James started all three group stage matches before a hamstring strain ended his run in the team, and he has yet to return for either of England’s knockout games against DR Congo and Mexico.

Djed Spence, the versatile backup capable of playing on either flank, then picked up an injury of his own, further depleting Tuchel’s options. With James unavailable, the German coach turned to Jarell Quansah against Mexico, only for the Bayer Leverkusen defender to be sent off and subsequently handed a two-game suspension.

With James and Spence both short of full fitness and Quansah banned, Konsa has emerged as the only viable solution at right back. It is an experiment born out of necessity, and how it holds up against Norway’s attack remains to be seen.

England currently occupies the No. 4 spot in the official FIFA rankings, boasting 1,871.39 total points. The squad, led by manager Thomas Tuchel, actually entered the tournament already locked into that fourth-place position with 1,828.02 points, meaning their recent success has allowed them to comfortably maintain their distance from the chasing pack while failing to quite close the gap on the world’s top three nations.

As the historic birthplace of modern soccer and home to the pioneering Football Association, England is currently in an ideal position to rewrite its own international record books regarding the global leaderboard.

The Three Lions have climbed into the top three of the FIFA rankings on exactly three occasions in program history, achieving the feat in 2012, 2021, and most recently in 2023. Despite reaching those lofty heights, England has never managed to crack the top two spots, an institutional drought they will be incredibly eager to finally break by lifting the trophy this July.

While Erling Haaland remains the top menace of a dangerous Norway squad, England still holds a definitive historical edge over their Scandinavian counterparts. Across 12 all-time meetings between the two European nations, England has claimed victory seven times, paired with three draws and just two losses, though this highly anticipated clash will mark their first-ever World Cup meeting.

England looking to end its legendary championship drought

England is firmly established as one of international soccer’s most historic brands, currently ranking fifth all-time for the most total matches played in World Cup history. However, during this year’s showcase, the primary objective for the Three Lions is simply putting an end to decades of tournament heartbreak.

In their lone World Cup final appearance, England delivered a clinical performance to secure a legendary 4-2 extra-time victory over West Germany back in 1966, but the program has famously failed to return to the grandest stage ever since. The Three Lions came agonizingly close to snapping their broader trophy drought recently, but consecutive, heartbreaking defeats in the 2021 and 2024 Euro finals against Italy and Spain have only prolonged the nation’s wait for a major honor.

Tuesday’s match looked like it might spell the end of Messi’s World Cup run, with Argentina trailing 2-0 until the 78th minute before the Inter Miami star once again dragged his side to victory. Despite the performance leaving plenty of questions unanswered, the coaching staff appears unwilling to shake things up significantly.

According to TyC Sports journalist and Argentina insider Gaston Edul, no major changes are expected between the Egypt and Switzerland lineups for Saturday’s quarterfinal on July 12th. During Thursday’s training session, Scaloni did not run a full practice game as he typically does at this stage, suggesting the adjustments will be minimal, with Friday’s session expected to be the final one before the match.

Players who earned their spot in the starting XI against Egypt are also expected to retain it. Nicolas Tagliafico, fully fit, will hold the left back position, while Leandro Paredes appears set to keep his place after a standout defensive contribution that included a crucial recovery to stop a dangerous Egyptian counterattack.

Julian Alvarez is also expected to remain as Messi’s attacking partner despite continued questions about his form. While Lautaro Martinez has looked the sharper finisher in the final third, Alvarez’s work rate and explosiveness are seen as better suited to breaking down a well-organized Swiss defensive block on Saturday.

Two doubts in Argentina’s squad

The right back position remains a genuine competition, with Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel both pushing for the starting spot. Neither has been particularly convincing throughout the tournament, leaving the position unsettled heading into a quarterfinal.

Montiel came on in the 73rd minute against Egypt with the score at 0-2 and made an immediate impact, setting up Messi for the 2-2 while positioned as a No. 9 inside the box in the 83rd minute. Even so, both players have shown vulnerabilities on and off the ball, and their inclusion may hinge on how they come through Friday’s training session.

The other open question is whether Nicolas Gonzalez will force his way into Argentina‘s midfield picture. The Atletico Madrid winger came on against Egypt as a substitute and immediately injected the pace that had been missing throughout, and with Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul both below their best, Gonzalez’s ability to change the tempo makes him a compelling wildcard option against Switzerland.

Projected lineup for Argentina

• Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez.
• Defenders: Nahuel Molina/Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolas Tagliafico.
• Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, and Alexis Mac Allister.
• Forwards: Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez.

After missing a first-half penalty and joining Karim Benzema in an unwanted chapter of France World Cup history, Mbappe responded in the best way possible. He broke the deadlock in the 60th minute before turning provider six minutes later, assisting Ousmane Dembele’s goal to make it 2-0.

The relief was short-lived, however, as Mbappe went down on the pitch in the 76th minute, visibly signaling to the bench to be replaced. He walked off under his own power in the 77th minute, making way for Jean-Philippe Mateta, but the sight of France’s talisman leaving the field raised immediate concern heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Speaking to beIN Sports and M6 after the game, Mbappe played down any serious concern while explaining the substitution: “I’m okay, I took a blow to the ankle but I’m fine. At that moment, JP (Jean-Philipe Mateta) was better suited than I was to play the final 15 minutes, so I came off and he came on. It’s good, plus he almost scored.“

Deschamps echoed that assessment and also addressed the condition of Manu Kone. “With Kylian, it was a bit of his ankle, he was feeling a bit of pain. Manu took a blow to the knee—it’s normal, the matches are coming thick and fast. It’s good for Warren, though I can’t please everyone,” the France boss told beIN Sports and M6.

Third consecutive World Cup semifinal for France

The victory over Morocco sends France to their third straight World Cup semifinal, having also reached the last four in 2018 and 2022. Les Bleus now stand as the third most frequent semifinalists in World Cup history with eight appearances, level with Italy, behind only Brazil with 11 and Germany with 13, and ahead of Argentina with six.

Mbappe reflected on the achievement of reaching the top four once again: “We are aware that there is only one way to relax, and that is to win. We are in the semi-finals, we are very happy, but there is still a long way to go. We are aware that what lies ahead of us is even tougher than what we’ve been through, but we are ready to face anything; we are going to quietly recover and watch tomorrow’s (Friday) match to see who we will be facing.“

Alongside teammates Dembele and Lucas Hernandez, Mbappe is now appearing in his third consecutive World Cup semifinal. The benchmark in that regard belongs to Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who featured in four straight between 2002 and 2014. With the semifinal scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at Dallas Stadium, Mbappe will have four days to recover from the ankle knock before France’s bid for a place in the final.

The trouble began in the second half against Mexico, when Quansah brought down Jesus Gallardo and was initially shown a yellow card. Following a VAR review, however, referee Alireza Faghani upgraded the decision to a red card in the 54th minute, leaving England to see out the remaining 36 minutes with ten men.

On Wednesday, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed the length of the ban. “2-match suspension for a breach of article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” the statement read. “The suspension will be served in the upcoming match(es) of the representative team of England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and in accordance with art. 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.“

The Mexico match was only Quansah’s second start of the tournament, having previously featured against Panama before being forced off with an injury. Now recovered, the Bayer Leverkusen defender will miss the quarterfinal against Norway and a potential semifinal against either Argentina or Switzerland, with his earliest possible return coming in the final should England get there.

Tuchel running short of right-back options

One of the more surprising omissions from Tuchel‘s World Cup squad was Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaving Reece James, Djed Spence, and Quansah as the options at right back. Injuries have steadily thinned that group throughout the tournament.

James started the first two matches against Croatia and Ghana before a hamstring problem ended his run in the team. More than two and a half weeks have passed since that injury, and the Chelsea defender has yet to return to action for England.

With James sidelined, Quansah stepped in at right back, a position he has covered at club level as part of a back three at Bayer Leverkusen. He started against Panama and again against Mexico before the red card and subsequent ban removed him from the equation entirely.

That leaves Djed Spence as Tuchel’s last recognized option at right back, one of the more unexpected names in the original squad selection. The Tottenham Hotspur defender has appeared in every match of the tournament, starting the Round of 32 clash against DR Congo at right back before coming off the bench in subsequent games to cover both flanks.

Spence entered the Mexico game as a substitute in the 74th minute after missing the final training session with a minor issue. With England unable to appeal Quansah’s suspesion and both James and Spence carrying fitness concerns, Tuchel faces a genuine problem heading into the Norway quarterfinal, with center back Ezri Konsa emerging as a contingency option if neither right back is available.

A sharp recovery from Desire Doue sparked a lethal French counterattack, with Michael Olise slipping a through ball into the path of Mbappe to exploit the space in behind. Already inside the box, the Real Madrid forward was brought down by Noussair Mazraoui after cutting to the outside, earning France a penalty in the 25th minute.

After a 3-minute VAR review confirmed the call, play resumed in the 28th minute with Mbappe stepping up to take the spot kick. He waited for Bounou to commit, but the Morocco goalkeeper read the shot correctly, diving to his left to make the save and keep the game level.

The miss not only denied France the lead but also marked the first penalty Mbappe has ever missed at a World Cup. He had previously converted four in the competition, scoring one in regulation and one in extra time against Argentina, plus one in the shootout, and one in regulation against Paraguay, making this his fifth attempt and his first failure on soccer’s biggest stage.

When it comes to the national team, it also ends up being another negative record, being the second miss ever in Mbappe’s career with France after 13 consecutive successful takes during regular and extra time. The last time Mbappe ever missed a penalty with Les Bleus was back in the 2022 UEFA World Cup qualifiers in a 2-0 win against Kazajstan back in March 2021, and more than five years later, that streak has come to an end.

Mbappe joins Benzema in unwanted history

The miss was not only Mbappe’s first penalty failure at a World Cup, but also just the second time a France player has missed a penalty outside of a shootout in the history of the competition. The first was Karim Benzema, who suffered the same fate against Switzerland in 2014.

In that group stage match, France were already leading 2-0 when Benzema stepped up in the 32nd minute, only to be denied by Diego Benaglio. He would go on to score France’s fourth goal in the 67th minute of a 5-2 victory, but the earlier miss etched his name into an unwanted piece of French World Cup history.

Tchouameni has been left out of the starting XI due to a tactical decision by head coach Didier Deschamps. With Morocco‘s defensive block presenting a specific challenge, Deschamps has opted for a more technical and creative midfield profile, dropping the Real Madrid midfielder in favor of a different approach.

Tchouameni had also been dealing with a minor injury sustained during the tournament, which kept him out of the Round of 16 match against Paraguay entirely, with the midfielder watching from the bench without logging a single minute.

At Wednesday’s press conference, Deschamps offered a cautiously optimistic update on his condition while hinting at a possible return: “Aurelien Tchouaméni is doing better, we’ll see. I can’t say more than that. He might participate in the training session today.“

The coach ultimately decided to deploy Manu Kone in his place, who’ll partner Adrien Rabiot in France’s double pivot. The AS Roma midfielder featured in both the group stage win over Iraq and the Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, and with Deschamps sticking to a similar tactical setup, Koné gets the nod once again for this quarterfinal.

A difficult World Cup for Tchouaméni

At just 25 years old, Tchouameni had established himself as a cornerstone of Deschamps’ setup, starting every match at the 2022 World Cup. But injuries have complicated his journey in the years since, and the 2026 tournament has been no different.

A hamstring injury sidelined him during the November international break, and from that point France played nine matches, four friendlies and five at the World Cup, with Tchouameni appearing in six of them. He went the full 90 minutes against Senegal, Norway, and Sweden, but a recurring fitness issue cost him his place against Paraguay, and that same concern has him starting on the bench against Morocco.

Saibari won’t be taking part of the game against France due to an injury. The striker suffered a discomfort in his hamstring during Morocco’s 3-0 Round of 16 win over Canada, which forced him off the field as early as the 22nd minute, and has been unable to recover in time for the quarterfinal clash with Les Bleus.

Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi addressed the situation at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference: “Everyone is available for the match, except for Ismael Saibari, for whom this game comes too soon, although he is not ruled out for the rest of the competition, I hope.“

Saibari has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, carrying the form he showed at PSV Eindhoven during the 2025-26 season directly into the World Cup. He scored in every group stage match and converted the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over the Netherlands in the Round of 32.

His performances have attracted major attention off the field as well, with Bayern Munich announcing his signing in the middle of the tournament. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal was completed for a fee of €55 million, making it the second most expensive transfer involving a Moroccan player, behind only the €60 million PSG paid Inter Milan for Achraf Hakimi.

Who will replace Saibari against France?

Having missed the 2022 World Cup, Saibari has established himself as Morocco’s undisputed first-choice striker, registering 12 goals in 35 international appearances. Two names stand out as candidates to fill the void against France.

The frontrunner is Soufiane Rahimi, who has come off the bench in each of Saibari’s absences throughout the tournament, picking up minutes against Brazil, Scotland, and Canada, where he contributed a goal and an assist. The other option, though considered less likely, is Ayoub El Kaabi, who started against Haiti when qualification was already secured and the pressure was off.

Lionel Messi currently stands as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals. After opening his account with one goal at the 2006 tournament, he added four in Brazil 2014, one in Russia 2018, seven in Qatar 2022, and eight in the 2026 edition across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the tournament in which he broke the record outright.

His place at the top, however, is under serious threat from Kylian Mbappe in second. The French star has been relentless in front of goal at every World Cup he has played, netting four times in Russia 2018, eight in Qatar 2022, and eight in North America 2026, bringing his career total to 20 goals across just three editions and 20 games.

Before the 2026 tournament, Miroslav Klose had held the record for twelve years. The German legend scored five goals in Korea/Japan 2002, five more in Germany 2006, four in South Africa 2010, and two in Brazil 2014, reaching 16 and lifting the trophy in what turned out to be his final World Cup appearance.

Rounding out the next tier are Ronaldo Nazario and Gerd Muller. The Brazilian icon scored 15 goals in 19 games while claiming two World Cup titles in 1994 and 2002, while “Der Bomber” found the net 14 times in just 13 games at a rate of better than one goal per match across the 1970 and 1974 editions, the latter of which West Germany won.

Harry Kane is among the most active chasers of history in the current field. With six goals in 2018, two in 2022, and six more so far in 2026, the England captain sits fifth alongside Muller with 14 goals. With the Three Lions still alive in the tournament, Kane remains one of the headline acts of this edition alongside Mbappe and Messi in the race to extend his tally.

All-time World Cup top scorers

Mbappe was the difference-maker in France‘s 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay, converting the decisive penalty. The victory earned Les Bleus 9.26 additional ranking points, pushing their total to 1,925.86 and returning them to first place.

Argentina, meanwhile, engineered a stunning comeback to advance, overturning a 2-0 deficit against Egypt to win 3-2 in another Messi masterclass. The victory was not enough to hold onto top spot in the rankings, however, and the Albiceleste now sit second with 1,925.15 points.

Argentina had entered the tournament ranked first after France’s shock group-stage loss to Ivory Coast sent Les Bleus tumbling to third behind Spain. With both nations now among the last eight, the points accumulated in the knockout rounds have been enough to flip the order, with France now leading Argentina by just 0.71 points.

Six of the top 10 nations remain in the quarterfinals

The 2026 World Cup quarterfinals have already made history, marking the first time Brazil, Germany, and Italy are all absent at this stage of the competition. Despite that shake-up, six of the eight remaining teams were ranked inside the FIFA Rankings‘ top 10 before the tournament began.

Argentina (1st), Spain (2nd), France (3rd), England (4th), Morocco (7th), and Belgium (9th) all entered the World Cup among the world’s elite. The two sides who gate-crashed the party are Switzerland, who came in ranked 19th with 1,650.06 points, and Norway, Erling Haaland’s side, who were 31st with 1,557.44 points.

FIFA Rankings top 10 ahead of the World Cup quarterfinals

1. France — 1925.86 points.
2. Argentina — 1925.15 points.
3. Spain — 1912.34 points.
4. England — 1871.39 points.
5. Brazil — 1804.92 points.
6. Morocco — 1803.99 points.
7. Portugal — 1787.85 points.
8. Belgium — 1778.36 points.
9. Netherlands — 1775.54 points.
10. Mexico — 1754.30 points.

The evening was not without its frustrations. With the chance to pull Argentina level from the penalty spot, Messi was denied by Egypt‘s goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, extending his own unwanted record as the player with the most missed penalties in World Cup history to four, doubling the previous mark of two held by Asamoah Gyan.

But as he acknowledged after the game, he pushed through the emotional blow and kept pressing forward. In the 78th minute, with Argentina trailing 2-0, Messi delivered a perfectly weighted cross for Cristian Romero to head home and begin one of the great World Cup comebacks.

That assist moved Messi to nine in World Cup history since 1966, making him the most prolific playmaker in the modern era of the competition. While the marks of Pele and Fritz Walter sit at ten when accounting for earlier editions where stats remain in question, within the post-1966 era Messi has surpassed the eight assists attributed to Diego Maradona, also cementing his place as Argentina’s all-time leading provider.

Messi and a record-breaking goal

The equalizer arrived in the 83rd minute, with Gonzalo Montiel laying the ball off inside the box for Messi to strike a half-volley that rattled the bar and went in for 2-2. Beyond pushing Argentina toward the greatest comeback in World Cup history, the goal continued to build a legacy that seems to have no ceiling.

On a personal level, the strike made 2026 the World Cup in which Messi has scored the most goals in a single edition, bringing his tally to eight. He had previously set the record with seven in Qatar 2022, while his four goals at Brazil 2014 ranked third on his own list.

Now leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals, Messi joins a short list of players to have reached that mark in a single tournament. Only Just Fontaine (13), Sándor Kocsis (11), Gerd Muller (10), Ademir de Menezes (9), and Eusebio (9) stand above him. The goal also drew him level with Kylian Mbappe and Ronaldo Nazario at eight, while matching Guillermo Stabile’s 1930 tally, which had stood as Argentina‘s single-edition record for nearly a century.

He also extended his own record for scoring in consecutive World Cup matches, with Egypt becoming the ninth straight game in which he found the net. A new dimension was added to that streak as well: he is now the first player in history to score in six consecutive World Cup knockout stage matches, surpassing the marks of Brazil’s Leonidas da Silva and Vava, and Hungary’s Gyorgy Sarosi, who each achieved the feat in five.

Finally, Messi became the oldest player to both score and assist in a single World Cup match at 39 years and 13 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Swedish legend Nils Liedholm, who accomplished the feat in 1958 at 35. It stands as yet another reminder that, even as a new generation takes hold of the sport, Messi remains in a class of his own.

Following the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, Martinez confirmed his departure with a measured farewell: “My era is over; now it is important to make a fresh start, and it is legitimate for the president to choose his own coach. I am grateful for all the support I received.“

The Portuguese Football Federation had already been thinking about a successor, with Martinez’s contract set to expire after the World Cup regardless of the result. According to Fabrizio Romano, Jorge Jesus is now set to take over, having agreed to a four-year deal with the Selecao.

Jesus arrives having spent several years in Saudi Arabia, most recently at Al Nassr, where he guided the club to the Saudi Pro League title alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Now at the helm of Portugal, the 71-year-old inherits a new cycle that includes the upcoming UEFA Nations League, Euro 2028, and the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co-host.

Jorge Jesus and a significant salary gap

Al Nassr had been keen to extend Jesus’s contract by another year, a move that would have aligned with Ronaldo’s current deal running through June 2027, and the club even raised its salary offer to keep him. Jesus, however, chose to hold out for the Portugal job, and the opportunity has now arrived.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Jesus will earn less than €4 million gross per year with the national team, totaling approximately €16 million over the life of the contract through 2030. That represents a dramatic reduction from the €12 million per year he was earning at Al Nassr, less than a third of his previous salary.

Will Ronaldo play under Jorge Jesus at Portugal?

Having gotten the best out of a 41-year-old Ronaldo at Al Nassr, Jesus’s appointment naturally raises the question of whether the legendary forward will continue his international career under his former club manager. After the Spain defeat, Ronaldo reiterated that 2026 was his last World Cup, but stopped short of announcing a full international retirement, saying he would “have time to think, be with my family, not make decisions in the heat of the moment, and move on with life.“

With his Al Nassr contract running through 2027, Ronaldo is expected to remain in club football for at least one more season. In that window, Portugal’s next international fixtures begin in September with UEFA Nations League matches against Wales and Norway, with the quarterfinal round scheduled for March 2027 and the Final Four in June 2027. That timeline makes the Nations League a realistic candidate to serve as the final chapter of Ronaldo’s international career.