The 2026 World Cup — 1st Semi-Final | OneFootball

After exactly 100 matches, it's down to the final four... and all four teams have two more games to play at the 2026 World Cup.

Down to the Final Four: A Historical Echo of 1966

There is a profound, almost poetic weight to a World Cup semi-final. It is the threshold where a campaign transcends a mere sports tournament and enters the realm of national epic.

For Evertonians, the phrase "World Cup Semi-Final" will always carry a deeply local resonance. Sixty years ago, during that golden summer of 1966, it was our own beloved Goodison Park that stood as the grand stage for the semi-final clash between West Germany and the Soviet Union — cementing the Grand Old Lady's unique status as the only English club ground ever chosen to host a World Cup semi-final.

As the tournament has moved across the Atlantic to the immense, modern arenas of North America, the setting tonight at the Dallas Stadium in Texas could not be more physically distant from the tight, brick-and-timber terraces of L4. Yet, the footballing stakes remain entirely unchanged. The four remaining sides face a stark, binary fate: win tonight, and immortality is but 90+ minutes away; lose, and you are condemned to the cruel, hollow theatre of Saturday's 3rd-place play-off.

Tactical Identities: France’s Pragmatism vs Spain’s Modernity

Tonight’s encounter pits two traditional continental heavyweights against one another, representing a clash of distinct footballing philosophies:

France: The Cold Calculus of Didier Deschamps

France arrive in Dallas having navigated the tournament with a formidable, defensive security. Under the long-standing stewardship of Didier Deschamps, Les Bleus have treated the knockout stages not as a stage for individual expression, but as a series of tactical puzzles to be solved with ruthless efficiency. Secure in possession, physically dominant in midfield, and waiting for the singular, devastating transition from Kylian Mbappé, they represent the ultimate tournament side — hard to love... but virtually impossible to beat.

Spain: The Redefinition of La Roja

In contrast, Spain have caught the eye by marrying their traditional, possession-heavy La Cartuja style with a direct, dynamic edge. No longer content with merely passing opposition sides into submission, Luis de la Fuente's team has utilized the wings with devastating impact, largely thanks to the breathtaking, youthful exuberance of Lamine Yamal on the right and Nico Williams on the left. They look slick, hungry, and entirely unburdened by the historic anxieties that used to plague Spanish squads of yesteryear.

The Franco-Iberian Toffee Connection

While no current members of David Moyes's squad will line up in Dallas tonight, the match nonetheless evokes a rich tapestry of former Toffees who have crossed these very borders:

As we look ahead to the 8:00 pm BST kickoff tonight, we are set for a fascinating battle of wits. Will France’s defensive scaffolding prove too rigid for Spain’s creative sparks, or will La Roja write another glorious chapter in their storied footballing history?

For Evertonians watching from afar, it is a chance to step back from the domestic grind, appreciate the academic niceties of elite tactical warfare, and remember that our club's history remains permanently woven into the fabric of the beautiful game's greatest stage.

Tuesday 14 July 2026

John Collins 2 Posted 14/07/2026 at 18:46:45

France are the best team in the competition.

But... it's a semi-final.

Raymond Fox 3 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:08:47

Nice one, Michael, it should be worth watching, I'm really looking forward to both semi-finals. They both look like there won't be much between the teams.

France have looked the best team in the competition but Spain are very decent. As I'm hopeless at picking the winners, I'll pass on this one.

Andrew Ellams 4 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:22:15

I reckon Spain could nullify France with their possession game and nick this 1-0.

Paul Griffiths 5 Posted 14/07/2026 at 19:54:08

Best anthem ever by a country mile. Love the last burst. Go Bleu.

Michael Kenrick 7 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:05:35

Yamal's counter drive got zero support.

France by contrast surged forward to win the corner.

Please let's see some positive play going forward.

Paul Griffiths 8 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:07:07

Did I hear correctly that Digne is off to PSG?

'Bournemouth have announced the signing of striker Alvaro Rodriguez from Spanish club Elche in a deal worth up to £25.7m'.

Exactly the sort of deal their recruiters always do. Bet this lad is sold on for much more.

And we got Barry for more.

Michael Kenrick 9 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:14:48

That counter was better from France but no real support for Mbappe.

Paul Griffiths 10 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:18:40

Oh dear Digne

Paul Griffiths 11 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:21:05

Now that's a penalty!

Ian Wilkins 12 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:22:12

Okay, Everton World Cup team past and present:

Pickford Patterson Stones Mina Digne Gueye Onana Rodriguez Ndiaye Lukaku Gordon

How would they do? We're still missing a right back….

Michael Kenrick 13 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:23:34

It was as if Digne didn't see him coming in, and thought he was kicking the dropping ball.

Paul Griffiths 14 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:24:03

Olise not in this game at all, yet ........

He only had his eyes on the ball MK

Edward Rogers 15 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:25:51

Did Yamal not knock the ball with his arm?

Ian Bennett 16 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:36:14

That boy Line-ker surely needs to be in. Reid for Onana.

Michael Kenrick 17 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:36:29

Shoulda bin No 2.

Mike Powell 18 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:47:07

Spain looking good!

Alan McGuffog 19 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:48:19

Was slightly distracted so I may have missed something and I'll hold my hands up.

The French lad who plays for the Gooners, with no one on him, sits down holding himself. Everyone stops. Why? Very sporting I know but still... 🤷‍♂️

Les Callan 20 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:50:41

Yet another borefest.

Paul Griffiths 21 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:53:22

Top tactical and technical display from Spain: Dembele, Mbappe, and Olise not in it so far.

Yet another game ruined by Kookerrarellers hair.

Alan McGuffog 22 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:54:01

Paul, and ours by far the worst

Dave Abrahams 23 Posted 14/07/2026 at 20:57:09

Mark @1,

If you had a bet on that, you might pick some money up!

Paul Griffiths 24 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:01:30

Thank Sheedy he will not be in the PL next season Alan.

Deschamps surely has to make HT subs: Doue? Cherki? Rabiot on a yellow?

Michael Kenrick 25 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:16:29

Good call, Paul.

Les @20,

For me, this is a lot more competitive than some games we've seen. Close pressing is forcing a number of turnovers, there are far fewer walking pace sideways passing bollocks.

Michael Kenrick 26 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:19:26

Spanish pressure pays off bigtime.

No-one goes with him.

Paul Griffiths 27 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:21:31

Brilliant goal. That's our right-back issue solved.

Tell the French it's 2026 not 1939.

Paul Griffiths 28 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:33:14

Taking Olise off is brave.

Dave Bowen 29 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:33:53

Ian @ #12. Surely Gary Stevens in for Patterson at RB

Paul Griffiths 30 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:38:42

Playing in this World Cup Dave B.

Ian Bennett 31 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:39:45

Could be Keith Newton for the old uns

Michael Kenrick 32 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:43:23

Doue had to hit that first time...

France finally showing some desire, but they have surely left it too late.

Jim Bennings 33 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:50:53

Spain been head and shoulders the better side

Ian Bennett 34 Posted 14/07/2026 at 21:56:10

Good shape about them Jim, and the tactical foul to kill any momentum when France try to build.

A good match, against two very good sides.

Josh Horne 35 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:00:09

Limp France performance, no spirit there at all.

Michael Kenrick 36 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:01:44

Simon with some brilliant playacting when anyone came close to him.

He was never touched in either incident.

Paul Griffiths 37 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:03:19

We need Spence to get a red card in the first minute of the final and take Rodri with him out of the game.

Dave Abrahams 38 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:03:54

Were France that poor, the way they played tonight, or did Spain make them look like that?

Paul Griffiths 39 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:04:09

France surrendered.

Second I think DA

Paul Griffiths 40 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:05:52

To think that Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain.

Christy Ring 41 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:06:13

Spain bullied them, and were a lot stronger in midfield, and both Porro and Cucurella were excellent.

Edward Rogers 42 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:07:10

Let's worry about Argentina first Paul.

Si Cooper 43 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:09:38

Spain deserved their victory but I think there is some revisionism already underway.

I didn’t see any level of Spanish dominance prior to the concession of a very soft penalty. Digne deals with a nothing cross better and there is no threat.

The Spanish then simply quite easily contained a French side who failed to stir themselves and were very sloppy in possession to boot.

The second goal is also a gift. Digne a bit unfairly scapegoated for that as well when two other French players simply failed to stop Porro playing a pass and then advancing alone to complete a straightforward one-two.

The Spanish unit easily vanquished the French mob (who looked like they’d been celebrating Bastille Day a bit too prematurely).

Andrew Merrick 44 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:12:07

Spain started the tournament a bit slow and lacked fluidity, they have been improving and tonight it clicked for them.

France were second best, can't complain...

Paul Griffiths 45 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:13:55

Bit of fun ER - 42.

Mind you, I did predict that Argentina would win the Falklands War.

Brent Stephens 46 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:14:17

Paul. #49 “France surrendered”. I suspect there’s a monkey reference there!

Jeff Armstrong 47 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:16:17

Spain by far the better team, not one French player could you say played well, conversely not one Spanish player had a bad game.

2-0 flattered France, 4-0 would have been a truer reflection of the gulf between the two teams.

Brendan McLaughlin 48 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:19:52

Andrew #44

Always think it's the slow burners who win these competitions. Spain look like they are peaking just at the right time.

Let's see what Argentina/England look like tomorrow.

Derek Thomas 49 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:41:28

Ian @ 12; Onana ffs!! While you've got Ball & Reid sat twiddling their thumbs, I wouldn't let him hand out the HT oranges.

No fullbacks you say? Wright, Wilson, Newton, Stevens.

Vernon, Labone, Steven, Linker, Mirallas, Richarlison, Cahill, Fellaini, Sheedy.

Mike Gaynes 50 Posted 14/07/2026 at 22:43:12

For those craving a new manager, Didier Deschamps will be available shortly.

Svein-Roger Jensen 51 Posted 14/07/2026 at 23:02:15

France were reduced to bit-part players. Spain were better at everything.

The French players weren't bad, but Spain made them look bad.

Paul Kossoff 52 Posted 14/07/2026 at 23:30:08

Whoopee. Frogs hop off back to frog land Over rated. Never a pen though, as it was Digne's space and the Spanish player handled the ball. Barge the argies off later. Jordan parading his w c gold at BMD seasons start.

Les Callan 53 Posted 14/07/2026 at 23:37:38

And so the circus continues. Half time in the final will be 25 minutes.

Les Callan 54 Posted 14/07/2026 at 23:47:32

Well in Derek @ 49. You tell ‘em the way it is. Onana ? I ask you.

Paul Griffiths 55 Posted 14/07/2026 at 00:54:54

You know me well Brent mate.

Svein-Roger, did you join the mass Noway homecoming celebrations for losing in the QF!!!!

Not even Haaland could be. bothered, slunk off with his $750 stuffed raccoon hilariously designed to look like it's drinking from a whiskey bottle or was it vodka?

Did you do the 'oops upside your head' dance again?

Paul Griffiths 56 Posted 14/07/2026 at 01:21:04

Derek 49 - that team was based on players in this current World Cup.

Paul Griffiths 57 Posted 15/07/2026 at 01:23:58

Len - 53 - I think that it might even be 30 mate. It takes that long to deliver 8 hot cheeseburgers and a bucket of sprite from the nearest MacDonalds.

Derek Thomas 58 Posted 15/07/2026 at 01:57:51

Paul @ 56; If all you're going to do is quote facts at me, I'm not playing - where's the fun in facts and answering the actual question.

As to actual football; Tomorrow's game is not a foregone conclusion either way. I just hope it doesn't all hinge on some dodgy penalty / VAR decision.

Mike Gaynes 59 Posted 15/07/2026 at 02:55:52

Derek #58, with a good, honest, true American referee?

How could you even think such a thing?

Paul Griffiths 60 Posted 15/07/2026 at 03:21:15

Cheers Derek!

Yanks officiating. 250 and all that. Trump making phone calls and getting his kit ironed for Sunday.

I smell a big rat.

Svein-Roger Jensen 61 Posted 15/07/2026 at 07:36:33

Spain’s defense just smothered them. Everyone else has been a little hesitant to go after them on defense and let France set up/do their thing. Spain did not, as a result France couldn’t set anything up and didn’t adjust.

Edward Rogers 62 Posted 15/07/2026 at 07:48:58

Not his biggest fan by a long way, but how was Digne to blame for Spain's 2nd goal?

Andrew Merrick 63 Posted 15/07/2026 at 08:09:35

Argentina are a decent team with a few star players, but that description would suit England too. A motivated England in a cooler stadium will be some way improved and they are a united squad. Spain are hitting peak form at the perfect time, but thats for another day. Live in hope!!

Ian Wilkins 64 Posted 15/07/2026 at 09:05:36

Derek @49,

I was pulling Everton players, past and present, from the current World Cup, not every World Cup.

Every World Cup would be quite some team.

Eric Myles 65 Posted 15/07/2026 at 09:08:58

Looks like your friend AI wrote that piece MK?

Raymond Fox 66 Posted 15/07/2026 at 09:24:49

Spain played the best game of skill and passing I've seen in a very long time. Every player continually found space to receive the ball, they were brilliant. For all that they didn't create loads of goal chances although they should have had another penalty when Yamal was bundled over on the right hand side plus a couple of very tiny offside decisions. France were totally outplayed, I don't think anyone picked Spain to win, it looks like their World Cup if they reproduce that performance.

In tonights game I want England to win obviously but I'm not confident we will, I just hope it doesn't come to penalties again.

Sorry Andrew @ 4, you did pick Spain to win.

Andrew Clare 67 Posted 15/07/2026 at 10:40:59

Could be red cards tonight as Argentina will play with a lot of grit and passion. They are tremendous footballers no doubt but they can be very volatile at times.

If Messi wasn't playing I would have some confidence that England would win but even at his age he is still the best in the world by some distance.

Looking forward to the game fingers crossed that Bellingham and England can reach the final.

Dave Abrahams 68 Posted 15/07/2026 at 12:42:21

Andrew (67)

I think both teams could be in danger of those red cards, which you might agree with.

Darren Hind 69 Posted 15/07/2026 at 12:56:50

I don't feel we have seen anything new throughout this Tournament. The game plan seems to have been to stay in the game and let the superstars do their stuff. Haaland. Mbappe, Ronaldo have gone home now. Belgium's flat track bully was always going home early. Either Kane or Messi will be following them after tonight's game.

England have not impressed, but If they can get their shit together and play to their potential they will win the tournament. They will never have a better chance.

Ian Horan 70 Posted 15/07/2026 at 13:43:12

Messi will be aloud to commit murder tonight and still a blind eye will be turned. Messi plays MLS in USA, what properganda this will provide Capt of World Championd also it will cement his Ballan D'Or.

internet will be in meltdown after this game if the Ref keeps to the script and all the commercial pressure will be brought to bear. guarantee ref card for a petulant act whilst Argentina will fall over go down and fein injury.

John Collins 71 Posted 15/07/2026 at 14:42:06

I think Argentina will play 4-4-2 tonight.Or 4-4-1-1 Messi with his usual free role. Tough game

Dave Abrahams 72 Posted 15/07/2026 at 14:46:58

If Egypt can score two against this Argentina team then I can see England winning by two clear goal’s tonight.