World Cup Nights: a day to breathe, then the semifinals. France-Spain tomorrow, England-Argentina on Wednesday

The World Cup takes its last break before the closing act: no matches, a second rest day done. Four teams remain in the hunt for the title. The action resumes tomorrow: France-Spain in Dallas on Tuesday, England-Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, both at 21:00 Italian time. The 19 July final is the prize.

No football for a second night running: the 2026 World Cup bracket observes its scheduled pause, handing the four semifinalists two full days to recover after the intensity of the quarterfinals. A good moment to recall how we got here. France saw off Morocco 2-0 with Kylian Mbappe's eighth goal of the finals — coming after he had missed a first-half penalty — and his assist for Ousmane Dembele's fifth. Spain edged Belgium 2-1 thanks to a Mikel Merino stunner and a man-of-the-match display from Lamine Yamal. England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 in extra time through a Jude Bellingham brace, sending Haaland home; world champions Argentina downed Switzerland 3-1, again in the extra period, after Embolo's red card.

The day off leaves room for talking points and a few numbers. The scoring race is neck and neck at the top: Mbappe and Messi lead together on 8, with Harry Kane and Bellingham himself just behind on 6. France, meanwhile, have a few fitness worries on the eve of the semi: Manu Kone (muscle discomfort) and Aurelien Tchouameni (groin) are doubtful, while Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba sat out the latest training session. And Bellingham's tribute to Messi is going around the world: 'He does things that make me think he is not human,' the Englishman said before the match that will pit him against La Pulga.

It all starts on Tuesday at 21:00 Italian time, at Arlington's AT&T Stadium (Dallas): France-Spain, perhaps the most keenly awaited semifinal. On one side the 2018 world champions, driven by Golden Boot leader Mbappe; on the other, the European champions of Spain and the talent of an 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, already decisive against Belgium and a scorer against France in the Euro 2024 semifinal. It is a recent, goal-laden fixture — their last meeting, in the Nations League, finished 5-4 for La Roja — and Opta's supercomputer leans slightly to the French side (42% to 32% in regulation). But with these two attacks, any prediction is a gamble.

On Wednesday, same time, the stage shifts to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium for England-Argentina: far more than a semifinal. The two nations have not met at a World Cup since 2002, and the clash stirs memories of one of the fiercest rivalries in tournament history, from Maradona in '86 to Beckham in '98. It is also the very first time Lionel Messi has faced England in his career. Across from him, the Three Lions of Kane and Bellingham, chasing a final they have missed since 1966. The bookmakers make England marginal favourites but sense a tight, tactical, fine-margins affair. The winner goes to the 19 July final at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium; the loser plays for third place in Miami on Saturday 18.

Two rest days done, four teams left, a trophy edging closer. The World Cup has caught its breath: now it is over to Dallas and Atlanta. We'll be back at dawn, after the first semifinal.

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