Day 35 of the 2026 World Cup finals as Spain await England (…or Argentina) in final after outclassing France

Welcome to day 35 of the 2026 World Cup finals.

There were 48 countries at these 2026 World Cup finals, the most there has ever been. The matches taking place across Mexico, Canada and the USA.

We are now left with just three potential winners of this World Cup.

Last night was the first World Cup semi-final, France v Spain.

As expected, this match saw one team dominate, easily the better side. Won 2-0 but it could and should have been an even bigger scoreline.

The only fault in my thinking was that France would be the team dominating and heading through to the final on Sunday in New Jersey.

I thought Spain had been very average throughout the tournament, whilst France had looked worthy favourites and all but certain to win the whole thing.

Instead, France never really got going and Mbappe just one of many players who looked a pale imitation of what had gone before. They repeatedly misplaced passes, gifted possession and never threatened. I had previously mentioned that Spain had never really appeared to get out of third gear in this tournament and questioned whether they indeed could do so. On Tuesday they went from third gear into fourth and through to fifth, France left a poor second best as they tried to match them.

Digne gifted a clear penalty in today’s football, one of those where in his own penalty area he swivelled round and blindly went to hoof the ball, only to hoof Yamal instead. Oyarzabal with an excellent spot-kick success that gave the keeper no chance.

We then awaited the French onslaught and are still waiting.

Spain had only conceded one goal in the tournament and France never really threatened to increase that stat.

Porro scored a very good second goal with the help of Olmo and Spain were 2-0 with just over half an hour to go.

The result then never in doubt.

That result in Dallas means England now know who they will face in New Jersey on Sunday IF they get past Argentina.

This England v Argentina game is tonight, an 8pm (UK time) kick-off in Atlanta.

As good as Spain played, I still see this as now giving England far more chance of winning the whole thing. I couldn’t see England beating France in a final if Deschamps’s side played close to their best, whereas I think England are capable of winning against both Argentina and Spain, if they play well. My belief is that England have a better team and manager than two years ago and Spain aren’t close now to the side that probably peaked two years ago when outclassing England in the 2024 Euros final.

First things first though and for sure I believe England will beat Argentina if Thomas Tuchel’s side play well and nothing dodgy happens such as self-inflicted wounds (red cards etc) or dubious decisions from the match officials.

I quoted an astonishing stat yesterday before the first semi-final was played.

The Athletic reporting: ‘In 13 of the past 14 finals across men’s and women’s World Cups and European Championships, the side that played their semi-final a day earlier won the final. In the other game, both semis were on the same day. And there is also evidence the pattern carries across to the Copa America.’

So if England indeed do defeat Argentina AND then Spain in the final, Thomas Tuchel will have really done it against the odds.

It is now 294 goals in 101 matches and this 2026 World Cup not too far short of averaging three goals per game for the first time since the 1958 World Cup but the chances of it happening are now all but gone. The closest since 1958 was the 1970 Mexico World Cup that averaged 2.97 goals per match, this 2026 World Cup now averaging 2.91 goals per game after the first 98 matches. To get up to an average of three goals per match across the tournament, there would need to be at least 18 goals scored in the three games left to play (including the third-place play-off match).

Here are the results from the quarter-finals onwards and the matches to come (all kick-offs are shown as UK times and with the channel that is showing them).

Quarter-finals

Thursday 9 July
France 2 Morocco 0

Friday 10 July
Spain 2 Belgium 1

Saturday 11 July
Norway 1 England 2 (AET)

Sunday 12 July
Argentina 3 Switzerland 1 (AET)

Semi-finals

Tuesday 14 July
France 0 Spain 2

Wednesday 15 July
England v Argentina 8pm (BBC1)

Third place play-off – Saturday 18 July 10pm

World Cup final – Sunday 19 July 8pm

Here is the full 2026 World Cup schedule:

Come on England!

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