The 2026 World Cup final takes place on Sunday 19th July at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00pm (UK time). Before then, four of international football’s biggest names remain in contention, with France, Spain, England and Argentina all battling for a place in the showpiece.
World Cup semi-final schedule
The semi-finals take place across Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th July.
| Match | Date | Kick-off (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Spain | Tuesday 14th July | 8:00pm |
| England vs Argentina | Wednesday 15th July | 8:00pm |
Best World Cup semi-final tip: Jude Bellingham anytime goalscorer (3/1)
Jude Bellingham continues to deliver when England need him most. The Real Madrid midfielder has already produced decisive moments throughout the tournament with six goals and one assist. The 23-year-old once again showed his quality by firing England into the semi-finals against Norway. Few midfielders attack the penalty area as aggressively as Bellingham and his timing makes him a constant goalscoring threat.
Argentina will naturally focus much of their defensive attention on Harry Kane, creating opportunities for runners arriving from midfield. Bellingham has repeatedly found space between the lines during this World Cup and looks excellent value at 3/1 with bet365 to score anytime against the reigning world champions.
World Cup Winner odds
The outright market remains incredibly competitive, but France head into the semi-finals as favourites to lift the trophy. Didier Deschamps’ side are priced at 6/4, while Spain and England are both on offer at 10/3. Argentina round off the betting at 9/2.
World Cup final prediction: France to win the 2026 World Cup
France have looked like the tournament’s strongest team from the opening match and remain the side to beat. They have combined defensive solidity with relentless attacking quality, scoring freely throughout the competition and creating chances at a rate no other nation has consistently matched. With Kylian Mbappe leading the Golden Boot race (8 goals) and averaging 5 shots per game , Les Bleus possess the most dangerous forward in the tournament.
Michael Olise has also emerged as France’s creative heartbeat. The Bayern Munich winger has created more chances than any other player left in the competition, consistently supplying Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in dangerous areas. After falling to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final, France have every motivation to finish the job this time around and finally reclaim football’s biggest prize.
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