Semifinals set as France and Spain clash; Infantino eyes 2030 expansion
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its final four, institutional shifts in tournament structure and security protocols take centre stage alongside the on-field rivalries.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals commence on Tuesday with France facing Spain in Dallas, followed by Argentina meeting England in Atlanta on Wednesday. The winners of these matches will advance to the final on Sunday, with France aiming to become only the second nation in history to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.
France enters the Dallas fixture as the tournament’s leading scorers with 16 goals, driven by Kylian Mbappé’s eight-goal tally. They will test Spain’s defensive resilience, which has conceded only seven shots on target across six matches. Statistical models from Opta suggest a 42.1 percent probability of a French victory in regulation time, compared to 31.8 percent for Spain.
In Atlanta, defending champions Argentina renew their historic rivalry with England. The match marks the first World Cup meeting between Lionel Messi and England’s current squad, including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. The Atlanta Police Department has announced it will enhance its citywide public safety and security posture ahead of the game.
Away from the pitch, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that a proposal to expand the 2030 tournament to 64 teams will be examined by FIFA committees after the 2026 event concludes. Infantino, who recently met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to offer condolences on the death of the former Emir, argued that increased participation helps countries develop.
In unrelated developments, Norway’s national team received a welcome from more than 100,000 fans in Oslo following their quarterfinal exit. Striker Erling Haaland returned to the capital with a taxidermied raccoon, which he posted about on social media and asked fans to help name via an Instagram poll.
