Match Predictions & Previews — Final Preview
Predictions and pre-match analysis for the final match of World Cup 2026. The R32, R16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and 3rd-place playoff are all complete. 3rd-place FINAL: England 6-4 France (Saka hat trick, Rice, Konsa, Bellingham; Mbappé brace, Barcola, Dembélé) at Hard Rock Stadium Jul 18. SF1 FINAL: Spain 2-0 France (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') at AT&T Stadium. SF2 FINAL: Argentina 2-1 England (Gordon 55', Fernández 85', L. Martínez 90'+2') at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Final: Spain vs Argentina, Sun Jul 19, 3:00 PM ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford. The Qatar 2022 final rematch, with Messi (8 goals) chasing a third world title and Spain's Pedri-Rodri-Yamal generation chasing a first since 2010. Final referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia), confirmed by FIFA on Friday Jul 17. Refreshed daily from live ESPN data, July 19 2026.
🏆 Round of 32 — Final Results
All seven remaining R32 ties are complete. Below: original pre-match analysis and the final result for every tie. Picks based on group-stage form, head-to-head history, and squad depth. Real fixtures from ESPN, refreshed daily.
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Result: 2-0 USA ✅
FT · High confidence was right
USA cruise past Bosnia 2-0 in their first knockout game under Pochettino. Pulisic and Balogun combined for the goals as advertised. The hosts book an R16 date with Belgium at Lumen Field on July 6.
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇦🇹 Austria
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Result: 3-0 Spain ✅
FT · High confidence was right
Spain cruise past Austria 3-0 with three different goalscorers — Yamal, Pedri, and Olmo all on the scoresheet. Rangnick's gegenpressing never got going. La Roja advance to a mouth-watering R16 clash with Portugal on July 6.
🇵🇹 Portugal vs 🇭🇷 Croatia
BMO Field, Toronto
Result: 2-1 Portugal ✅
FT · Medium confidence was right on winner
Portugal edge Croatia 2-1 in Toronto — Ronaldo's late penalty sealed it. Modrić's last World Cup game ends in defeat. Portugal set up an Iberian derby with Spain in the R16 on July 6.
🇨🇭 Switzerland vs 🇩🇿 Algeria
BC Place, Vancouver
Result: 2-0 Switzerland ✅
FT · Medium confidence was right on score
Switzerland brush Algeria aside 2-0 in Vancouver — Xhaka pulled the strings as expected. Swiss defensive organisation held firm. Switzerland await the winner of Egypt vs Australia in the R16.
🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇪🇬 Egypt
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Result: 1-1 AET · Egypt 4-2 pens ✅
FT · Egypt through · Medium confidence was right on winner
Egypt booked their R16 spot with a 4-2 penalty win over Australia after a 1-1 draw through extra time in Dallas. Salah converted. Switzerland up next — a real test of Egypt's giant-killing credentials.
🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇻 Cape Verde
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Result: 3-2 Argentina AET ✅
FT · High confidence was right on winner
Argentina survive a Cape Verde scare — 3-2 in extra time in Miami. Messi brace did the job, Álvarez added the third. Cape Verde exit with heads held high. Argentina face Colombia in the R16 in a South American derby.
🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Result: 1-0 Colombia ✅
FT · Medium confidence was right on winner
Luis Díaz's goal sends Colombia through 1-0 in Kansas City. Ghana's pace caused problems but Colombia's quality in the final third was decisive. South American derby with Argentina in the R16 awaits.
⚡ Round of 16 — Final Results
All eight R16 matchups are now complete. Below: original pre-match picks alongside the final score for every tie. R16 day 1 (Jul 4) FINAL: Morocco 3-0 Canada (Houston), France 1-0 Paraguay (Philly). R16 day 2 (Jul 5) FINAL: Norway 2-1 Brazil (MetLife, Haaland brace 79'/90', Neymar pen 90'+10'), England 3-2 Mexico (Azteca, Bellingham brace 36'/38', Quiñones 42', Quansah red 54', Kane pen 60', Jiménez pen 69'). R16 day 3 (Jul 6) FINAL: Spain 1-0 Portugal (Arlington, Merino 90'+1' winner, Ronaldo exits in tears), USA 1-4 Belgium (Seattle, Pulisic injured). R16 day 4 (Jul 7) FINAL: Argentina 3-2 Egypt (Atlanta, Yasser Ibrahim 15', Mostafa Zico 67'; Romero 79', Messi 83' volley, E. Fernández 90'+2'), Switzerland 0-0 Colombia (Vancouver, Swiss win 4-3 on penalties — Kobel saves two). The eight winners are France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, Switzerland — and they form the four QF pairings below.
Jul 4, 2026
1:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇨🇦 Canada 0-3 🇲🇦 Morocco
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
❌ MISS — Pick was Canada 2-1
Confidence: Medium
Morocco dominated in Houston — En-Nesyri struck twice and Diaz added a third. Hakimi ran the show from right-back and Canada's home support couldn't lift them. The pre-match read (Hakimi vs Davies, both teams on the counter, Canada's home edge) over-rated Canada's ceiling: Morocco's knockout experience from Qatar 2022 showed. Atlas Lions through to face the Argentina-Egypt winner in the QF.
Jul 4, 2026
5:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇵🇾 Paraguay 0-1 🇫🇷 France
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Result: 1-0 France ✅ (winner right, score off)
FT · High confidence on the win was right
France grind out a 1-0 win over a stubborn Paraguay in Philly. The pre-match read (Mbappé, Olise, Cherki all firing; Paraguay's Cinderella run ends) was right on the winner — France advance — but the scoreboard told a tighter story than the 3-0 prediction. Mbappé (5 goals) leads the Golden Boot. France now await the Brazil-Norway winner in the QF on July 9.
Jul 5, 2026
4:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇧🇷 Brazil 1-2 🇳🇴 Norway
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
❌ MISS — Pick was Brazil 2-1
FT · High confidence was wrong on winner — Haaland shocks Brazil
Norway pulled off the upset of the tournament, beating Brazil 2-1 at MetLife. Haaland struck again to extend his Golden Boot lead as Norway's physicality and directness broke Brazil's midfield control. The pre-match read (Brazil -130 favourites, Casemiro/Guimarães to control possession) over-rated Brazil's ceiling in a knockout setting — Norway's counter-punching punished the Seleção. Norway book a QF date with the Spain-Portugal winner.
Jul 5, 2026
8:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇲🇽 Mexico 2-3 🏴 England
Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico
Result: 3-2 England ✅ (winner right, score off)
FT · Low confidence coin-flip — England held their nerve at altitude
England survived a hostile Azteca atmosphere, beating Mexico 3-2 in the R16. Jude Bellingham struck twice in the first half — a 36th-minute header and a second in the 38th — to put England 2-0 up inside 42 minutes before Julián Quiñones pulled one back with a volley. Jarell Quansah's 54th-minute red card changed the dynamic, but Harry Kane held his nerve from the penalty spot in the 60th to restore the two-goal cushion. Raúl Jiménez converted a Mexico penalty in the 69th to set up a tense finish; the cards (Sánchez, O'Reilly, Vásquez, Henderson) tell the rest of the story. The pre-match read (true coin-flip, slight edge to England on penalties, Azteca hostility, Kane vs Lozano) was right on the winner — Mexico pushed hard and made it a thriller. England now meet the Spain-Portugal winner in the QF.
Jul 6, 2026
3:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇵🇹 Portugal 0-1 🇪🇸 Spain
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Result: 1-0 Spain ✅ (winner right, score off)
FT · Merino 90'+1' · High confidence — La Roja squeeze through
Spain survived a cagey Iberian derby in Arlington, beating Portugal 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. Mikel Merino — just on as a substitute — headed in a 90'+1' winner from Lamine Yamal's cross to break Portuguese hearts in front of 70,649. The game looked destined for extra time until Merino's late intervention, with Bernardo Silva and Renato Veiga already booked for Portugal and Ferran Torres picking up a late yellow. Cristiano Ronaldo exits in tears at 41 — his sixth and final World Cup ends in the R16. The pre-match read (Spain -110 favourites, midfield depth and Yamal creativity) was right on the winner; the score was tighter than the pick, but La Roja's quality told in the end. Spain now meet England in the QF on July 10.
Jul 6, 2026
8:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇺🇸 USA 1-4 🇧🇪 Belgium
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
❌ MISS — Pick was Belgium 2-1 (winner right, score off)
FT · High confidence on the winner was right, USA thrashed
Belgium thrashed the United States 4-1 in Seattle to set up a quarterfinal with Norway. The pre-match read (De Bruyne vs Pulisic, Balogun eligible, Belgium's midfield quality) was right on the winner — but the score flattered no one. Pulisic was forced off with an ankle injury in the second half, Pochettino would not commit to staying on, and the USMNT are out in the R16 for the second straight tournament. Belgium also trolled the USA on social media post-match, referencing the Balogun eligibility saga.
Jul 7, 2026
12:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇦🇷 Argentina 3-2 🇪🇬 Egypt
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Result: 3-2 Argentina ✅
FT · High confidence was right on winner, score off by one
Argentina survive a major scare in Atlanta to book a QF with Switzerland.
Yasser Ibrahim headed Egypt in front in the 15th minute and Messi missed a first-half penalty — but the holders rallied in the second half. Cristian Romero (79') and
Messi's 83rd-minute volley turned it around before Enzo Fernández's 90'+2' header sealed it. Mostafa Zico (67') had briefly restored Egypt's lead at 2-1. Pre-match pick (Argentina 3-1, High) was right on the winner and within one goal of the final score — a true test of Argentina's title defence mettle. FT coverage on the
results page.
Jul 7, 2026
4:00 PM ET · FINAL
🇨🇭 Switzerland 0-0 🇨🇴 Colombia
BC Place, Vancouver, BC
Result: 0-0 AET · Switzerland 4-3 pens ✅
FT-Pens · High confidence on the winner was wrong — Swiss edge it on pens
Switzerland overcame a long-standing penalty-kick "curse" to eliminate Colombia in Vancouver, winning the shootout 4-3 after a goalless 120 minutes. Quintero, Campaz, and Luis Díaz scored for Colombia, but Gregor Kobel saved twice from the spot. Xhaka, Amdouni, Itten, and Vargas all converted for the Swiss. Pre-match pick (Colombia 2-1, High) was wrong on the winner — Switzerland's defensive organisation and Xhaka's midfield control held firm. The Swiss now face Argentina in Kansas City on Saturday night for a place in the semis.
All eight R16 ties are FINAL. Winners: France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain, Belgium, Argentina, Switzerland. They form the four QF pairings. France vs Morocco (Jul 9, Foxborough) is the QF opener — Mbappé's five-goal Golden Boot charge against the Atlas Lions' Qatar-2022 pedigree. Spain vs Belgium (Jul 10, SoFi) is a rematch of Euro 2020's sharpest match. England vs Norway (Jul 11, Hard Rock) pits Bellingham-Kane-Foden against Haaland's juggernaut. Argentina vs Switzerland (Jul 12 01:00 UTC, Arrowhead) closes the QF slate — Messi vs Xhaka in a tie where the holders cannot underestimate a Swiss side that just broke their penalty curse. Pre-match picks and confidence ratings on each tie are below. See the live bracket on the homepage for the full picture.
🔥 Quarter-Finals — Final Results & Analysis
All four quarter-finals are complete. Below: original pre-match picks and the final score for every tie. QF1 FINAL: France 2-0 Morocco (Gillette, Mbappé 60', Dembélé 66'). QF2 FINAL: Spain 2-1 Belgium (SoFi, Fabián Ruiz 30', De Ketelaere 41', Merino 88'). QF3 FINAL: England 2-1 Norway AET (Hard Rock, Schjelderup 36', Bellingham 45'+2' & 93'). QF4 FINAL: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland AET (Arrowhead, Mac Allister 10', Ndoye 67', Álvarez 112', L. Martínez 120'+1'; Embolo red 72'). The four winners — France, Spain, England, Argentina — form the SF pairings below. Picks based on R16 form, head-to-head history, and squad depth. Real fixtures and kickoff times from ESPN, July 13 2026.
🇫🇷 France vs 🇲🇦 Morocco
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
✅ FINAL: France 2-0
Pick was France 2-1 · Winner ✓, score missed by one goal
Final score: France 2-0 Morocco (Mbappé 60', Dembélé 66'; Mbappé missed a first-half penalty). Pre-match read: France are the bookmakers' favourites (Mbappé +110 outright) after a 1-0 grind past Paraguay, with Mbappé (5 goals) leading the Golden Boot. Major blow: FIFA rejected France's appeal to overturn Michael Olise's yellow card, so the winger is suspended for the QF. Morocco (+260) thrashed Canada 3-0 in the R16 — En-Nesyri has 4 tournament goals, Hakimi and Amrabat run the right side and midfield, but Saibari (injury) is out and Brahim Díaz carries the creative load after his AFCON final penalty miss. Deschamps has played down the Argentinian officials. The pre-match read: France's individual class and midfield depth (Kanté, Tchouaméni, Olise-out means Thuram or Dembélé start) edge it, but Morocco's tournament pedigree from Qatar 2022 means a cagey, low-scoring knockout game. What actually happened: Mbappé's missed first-half penalty was the only scare. Six minutes after the restart Mbappé opened the scoring from open play; Dembélé doubled the lead six minutes later from Mbappé's pass. Issa Diop (63') was booked. Brahim Díaz was bright but Morocco couldn't break through. France through to the semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on July 14 to face Spain (QF2 winner). The original pick (France 2-1) was right on the winner but missed the score by one goal — France kept a clean sheet.
Jul 10, 2026
3:00 PM ET · 19:00 UTC
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Final: 2-1 Spain
Confidence: Correct pick ✅
Final score: Spain 2-1 Belgium (Fabián Ruiz opener, Charles De Ketelaere equaliser on a Castagne cross, Mikel Merino winner). QF2 at SoFi — kicked off Friday at 3pm ET (19:00 UTC), live on FOX. Spain (-160, DraftKings) squeezed past Portugal 1-0 via Merino's 90'+1' winner; Belgium (+425) thrashed the USMNT 4-1 with De Ketelaere (2) and a clinical counter-attacking display. Courtois had publicly backed the underdogs to upset La Roja — his first official match against Spain. What actually happened: Spain dominated 67.8% possession and 17-5 on shots (8 on target to 2). Fabián Ruiz put La Roja ahead with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box; De Ketelaere headed Belgium level from Castagne's cross. Merino — the R16 hero — converted from very close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Yellows: Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte (Spain); Kevin De Bruyne and Axel Witsel (Belgium). Belgium sub: Senne Lammens replaced Thibaut Courtois after the keeper appeared to pick up an injury. Lukaku was introduced late for Vanaken. The pre-match read (Pedri and Yamal vs De Bruyne and Doku deciding it in the half-spaces) proved accurate; Spain's control of the central zones was the difference. Spain are through to the semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on July 14 to face France (QF1 winner). The pre-match pick (Spain 2-1) was right on the winner and the score — Merino, flagged as a likely goalscorer, delivered as predicted. Belgium's tournament ends in the last eight for the second time in three tournaments.
Jul 11, 2026
5:00 PM ET · 21:00 UTC
🏴 England vs 🇳🇴 Norway
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Final: 2-1 England
Confidence: Correct pick ✅ (winner, score missed by one goal — pre was 2-1 ENG)
Final score: England 2-1 Norway (after extra time) (Bellingham 45'+2' and 93'; Schjelderup 36' for Norway). QF3 at Hard Rock — a blockbuster. England beat Mexico 3-2 at Azteca in the R16 (Bellingham brace, Kane pen) and were -130 favourites on DraftKings; Norway (+260) were the dark horse after Haaland's brace in the 2-1 win over Brazil at MetLife. Quansah's two-match ban (Azteca red) ruled the Leverkusen defender out of the QF and any semi-final. What actually happened: Schjelderup gave Norway a shock 36th-minute lead at Hard Rock (attendance 64,478), but Bellingham headed England level in first-half stoppage time (45'+2'). The game stayed 1-1 through 90 minutes and Bellingham — the hero of the R16 against Mexico — struck again in the 93rd minute, the third minute of extra time, to seal the 2-1 win and England's first World Cup semi-final since 2018. Yellow: Kristoffer Ajer (Norway, 117'). England through to the semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday July 15 to face Argentina (QF4 winner). The pre-match pick (England 2-1, High confidence) was right on the winner and the score; Quansah's suspension carried over — he misses the SF.
Jul 11, 2026
9:00 PM ET · 01:00 UTC Jul 12
🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Final: 3-1 Argentina (AET)
Confidence: Correct pick ✅ (winner, score missed — pre was 2-0 ARG; needed extra time)
Final score: Argentina 3-1 Switzerland (after extra time) (Mac Allister 10', Álvarez 112', Lautaro Martínez 120'+1'; Dan Ndoye 67' for Switzerland). QF4 at Arrowhead — attendance 69,045. Argentina (-150) were the holders with Messi on a 7-goal Golden Boot charge; Switzerland (+450) were the lowest-remaining seed but unbeaten in 270 minutes since conceding to Austria in the group stage. What actually happened: Alexis Mac Allister headed Argentina into a 10th-minute lead, but Dan Ndoye equalised in the 67th to silence the Arrowhead crowd. The game's decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when Breel Embolo picked up a second yellow and was sent off — Switzerland down to ten men. Julián Álvarez struck in the 112th minute to restore Argentina's lead, and Lautaro Martínez added a third in the 120'+1' to seal a 3-1 win in extra time. Yellows: Embolo (44'), Almada (97'), L. Martínez (98'), López (114'). Red card: Embolo (72'). Argentina through to the semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday July 15 to face England (QF3 winner). The pre-match pick (Argentina in 90 minutes, Medium confidence) was right on the winner; the holders needed the extra 30 minutes (and the numerical advantage from the 72nd minute) to make the difference.
⚡ Semi-Finals — Final Results & Analysis
Both semi-finals are complete and settled in 90 minutes. SF1 FINAL: Spain 2-0 France at AT&T Stadium (Oyarzabal 22' pen, Porro 58'; Saliba injured 29'). SF2 FINAL: Argentina 2-1 England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Gordon 55', Enzo Fernández 85', Lautaro Martínez 90'+2'; yellows: Anderson 37', L. Martínez 42', Romero 51', De Paul 90'+4'). Spain and Argentina are the 2026 finalists and meet at MetLife Stadium on Sunday July 19. 3rd-place FINAL: England 6-4 France at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday July 18 (Saka hat trick, Rice, Konsa, Bellingham 90'+6'; Mbappé brace, Barcola, Dembélé) — Mbappé surpassed Messi as the all-time WC leading scorer on 22 in this game. Below: original pre-match picks and the actual final score for each SF. Final referee for Spain vs Argentina: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia), named by FIFA on Friday Jul 17. Updated from live ESPN, July 19 2026.
Tue Jul 14, 2026 ✅ FINAL
3:00 PM ET · 19:00 UTC
🇫🇷 France 0-2 🇪🇸 Spain
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Result: Spain 2-0 ✅
Pick was Spain 2-1 AET — Correct winner, wrong score (no AET needed)
Final score: Spain 2-0 France (Oyarzabal 22' pen, Pedro Porro 58' — assisted by Dani Olmo). SF1 at AT&T Stadium in front of 70,176.
What actually happened: Spain were awarded a penalty in the 22nd minute after a foul on a Spain attacker in the box, and
Mikel Oyarzabal sent the spot-kick into the top right corner with his left foot to put La Roja ahead.
William Saliba went off injured in the 29th minute (replaced by
Maxence Lacroix) — a major blow to the French defence.
Pedro Porro (58') doubled the lead from the centre of the box with a right-footed finish to the bottom right corner after a through ball from
Dani Olmo. France pushed through the second half with
Manu Koné (45' for Rabiot, who was booked in the 9th minute),
Désiré Doué (57' for Barcola),
Théo Hernández and
Rayan Cherki (both 72') but Mbappé (booked 86') and Dembélé could not find a way past Unai Simón. Spain saw out the game with
Ferran Torres,
Mikel Merino,
Pedri,
Marcos Llorente and
Nico Williams all introduced from the bench —
Marc Cucurella was booked (31') in a typically combative Spanish display.
Stats: Spain 50.9% possession, 10-10 shots (2-3 on target), 428/500 passes (85.6%), 1 corner; France 49.1%, 7 corners.
La Roja are the first 2026 World Cup finalist and end France's run of three consecutive finals (2018, 2022, 2026). Spain now await the winner of
SF2 England vs Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday July 15 (3pm ET) in the
MetLife final on Sunday July 19.
Pedri and Rodri ran the midfield,
Yamal was a constant threat on the right and
Dani Olmo delivered the assist for the decisive second goal. The pre-match pick (Spain 2-1 AET, Medium confidence) was right on the winner but wrong on the score and on extra time — Spain got the job done in 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet.
Full match report →
Wed Jul 15, 2026 ✅ FINAL
3:00 PM ET · 19:00 UTC
🏴 England 1-2 🇦🇷 Argentina
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
❌ MISS — Pick was England 1-0 (winner wrong)
Confidence: High was wrong · Argentina through 2-1
Final score: Argentina 2-1 England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (ESPN team sheet).
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for England in the 55th minute, but
Enzo Fernández equalised in the 85th and
Lautaro Martínez headed the winner in the 90'+2' to complete a famous Argentina comeback.
Cards: Elliot Anderson 37' (ENG), Lisandro Martínez 42' (ARG), Cristian Romero 51' (ARG), Rodrigo De Paul 90'+4' (ARG).
What it means: Argentina are the second 2026 World Cup finalists and return to the final for the second consecutive tournament, where they will face Spain at MetLife on Sunday July 19. The pre-match pick (England 1-0, High confidence) was wrong on the winner: Argentina's midfield depth, Scaloni's substitutions, and a tired England after the QF3 120-minute win over Norway told in the final 35 minutes. Tuchel's three changes (Rogers, Spence, James in) couldn't break Argentina's pressing game.
Scaloni post-match: "We smelt blood when they retreated to defend the lead." Argentina's win sets up the
Qatar 2022 final rematch at MetLife Stadium on July 19, with Messi (8 goals, joint Golden Boot leader) chasing a third World Cup title and Spain's Yamal-Pedri-Rodri generation chasing a first since 2010.
Full match report →
🏆 Final Prediction — Spain vs Argentina
One match left at World Cup 2026. The 3rd-place playoff is in the books — England 6-4 France at Hard Rock Stadium on Sat Jul 18 (Saka hat trick, Mbappé brace, Bellingham stoppage-time winner; Mbappé finishes as the 2026 Golden Boot winner outright on 10 goals and as the men's all-time World Cup leading scorer on 22). Final: Spain vs Argentina, Sun Jul 19, 3:00 PM ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Live on FOX. Final referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia), confirmed by FIFA on Friday Jul 17. Below: pre-match pick, confidence rating, and one-paragraph analysis. Real fixtures and kickoff times from ESPN, refreshed July 19 2026.
Sat Jul 18, 2026
5:00 PM ET · 21:00 UTC
🏅 🇫🇷 France 4 – 6 🏴 England — 3rd-place playoff FINAL
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida · Sat Jul 18, 2026
Final: 6-4 England ✅
Pick was France 2-1 · Winner ✗, score way off
Final score: England 6-4 France (Saka 23' & 33' & 87' pen, Rice 9', Konsa 14', Bellingham 90'+6' for England; Mbappé 51' & 60', Barcola 57', Dembélé 90'+3' for France). Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens — a chaotic, all-time World Cup classic in which England raced into a 4-0 halftime lead and then held off a furious France comeback. Both teams made seven changes following their SF losses, and Didier Deschamps (in his final match after 14 years in charge) brought on Dembélé and Barcola at halftime to trigger a response. The pre-match read (Mbappé's individual class, France's desire to repeat their 2022 bronze, France had 8 goals to England's 5 knockout goals) was wrong on the winner. What actually happened: England tore into a shambolic France with Rice (9'), Konsa (14') and two Saka strikes in nine first-half minutes (23', 33') to make it 4-0 at the break. France responded after halftime: Olise set up Mbappé (51') for a first-time finish past Henderson, Mbappé turned provider for Barcola (57') before scoring again in the 60th to make it 4-3 — and in doing so scored his 10th goal of the tournament, moving to 22 all-time World Cup goals and past Messi as the men's all-time World Cup leading scorer. Olise — whose 7 assists in the tournament is a single-WC record — somehow sidefooted wide from 12 yards with the chance to equalise. Djed Spence won an 87th-minute penalty after a Gusto foul; Saka converted to complete his hat trick and become only the fourth men's player to score a World Cup hat trick for England. Dembélé (90'+3') pulled one back, but Bellingham drove into the box to finish from close range in the 6th minute of stoppage time (90'+6') to seal the win. England finish 3rd — their best WC finish since 1966. Mbappé is the 2026 Golden Boot winner outright on 10 goals — the first French winner since Just Fontaine's 13 in Sweden 1958 — and is the men's all-time WC leading scorer on 22. The pre-match pick (France 2-1, Medium confidence) was wrong on the winner and missed the score by a country mile — a true 10-goal classic where the 4-0 halftime scoreline flattered one side and the 4-3 comeback flattered the other.
Sun Jul 19, 2026
3:00 PM ET · 19:00 UTC
🏆 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇦🇷 Argentina — the Qatar 2022 final rematch
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Pick: Spain 2-1
Confidence: High
The 2026 final at MetLife Stadium is the rematch of the Qatar 2022 final (Argentina 2-0 in extra time via Mbappé hat-trick — well, 3-2 actually, but Argentina won on pens). Spain are the new bookmakers' favourite after the SF1 2-0 dismantling of France (Oyarzabal pen, Porro); La Roja's Pedri-Rodri-Yamal midfield controlled the SF against Kanté-Tchouaméni-Dembélé. Argentina are the defending champions and have the knockout experience: they overturned England 2-1 at Mercedes-Benz in the SF2 with goals from Fernández and L. Martínez. Argentina's confirmed starting XI (per ESPN, 17:55 UTC Jul 19) brings in De Paul, Nico González and Montiel as Scaloni makes three changes. Messi (8 goals, joint Golden Boot leader) is chasing a third World Cup title at 39 — possibly his final game in a major tournament. Yamal (17) and Pedri have been La Roja's best players all tournament. The tactical battle: Yamal-Pedri-Olmo vs Mac Allister-De Paul-E. Fernández in midfield; Lamine vs Tagliafico on the right is the subplot. The pre-match read: Spain's midfield depth and tournament-leading possession (54% on average) edge Argentina's knockout experience and Messi's last dance. Pick: Spain 2-1 at High confidence — Pedri decides it in the second half. Argentina to push the holders' mentality to the limit. The 2026 final sets up the first all-European-vs-South-American final since Qatar 2022, with both teams on the attack and the MetLife surface perfect for La Roja's passing game. Live on FOX at 3pm ET. Final referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia).
📊 Tournament Outlook — Final Day
Both semi-finals are FINAL. SF1: Spain 2-0 France (Oyarzabal pen 22', Porro 58') at AT&T Stadium — Saliba injured 29', Spain reach a first WC final since 2010. SF2: Argentina 2-1 England (Gordon 55', Fernández 85', L. Martínez 90'+2') at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Argentina's stoppage-time comeback. Spain and Argentina meet in the MetLife final on Sunday July 19 (3pm ET, live on FOX) — the Qatar 2022 final rematch. 3rd-place FINAL: England 6-4 France at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday (5pm ET) — Saka hat trick, Mbappé brace surpassing Messi as the all-time WC leading scorer. Updated from live ESPN, July 19 2026.
🇫🇷 France
Status: 4TH PLACE · 2026 World Cup — SF1 lost 0-2 to Spain, 3rd-place lost 4-6 to England at Hard Rock on Sat Jul 18
Mbappé (8 goals, tied with Messi) was joint Golden Boot leader pre-SF. France beat Senegal 3-1 (Mbappé brace 66', 90'+6') and Iraq 2-0 (Mbappé brace) in the group, then Sweden 3-0 (R32), Paraguay 1-0 (R16, Mbappé pen 70') and Morocco 2-0 (QF1, Mbappé 60', Dembélé 66'). SF1: lost 0-2 to Spain at AT&T Stadium (Oyarzabal 22' pen, Porro 58'; Saliba injured 29'). Saliba's first-half injury and Spain's superior midfield control ended the title defence. 3rd-place FINAL: lost 4-6 to England at Hard Rock — France raced into a 4-0 halftime deficit (Rice, Konsa, Saka x2) but pulled it back to 4-3 via Mbappé brace (51' & 60', his 10th of the tournament, surpassing Messi on 22 all-time WC goals) and goals from Barcola and Dembélé before Saka's 87th-minute penalty and Bellingham's stoppage-time winner sealed it. Mbappé finishes the 2026 World Cup as the outright Golden Boot winner on 10 goals (the first French winner since Just Fontaine's 13 in Sweden 1958) and as the men's all-time World Cup leading scorer on 22. Final standing: 4th place. Full 3rd-place report →
France team page →
🇦🇷 Argentina
Status: WORLD CUP FINALIST · MetLife on Sunday (3pm ET)
Holders. Messi (8 goals, tied with Mbappé at the top of the Golden Boot race). Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 (Messi hat-trick 17', 60', 76') and Austria 2-0 (Messi brace 38', 90'+5') in the group, then Cape Verde 3-2 AET (R32, Messi 29'), Egypt 3-2 (R16, Messi 83' volley), Switzerland 3-1 AET (QF4, Mac Allister 10', Ndoye 67', Álvarez 112', L. Martínez 120'+1'; Embolo red 72'), and England 2-1 in the SF2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Gordon 55', Enzo Fernández 85', Lautaro Martínez 90'+2'). Stoppage-time comeback seals the holders' place in a second consecutive World Cup final. Scaloni post-match: "We smelt blood when they retreated." Argentina now face Spain at MetLife Stadium on Sunday July 19 (3pm ET, live on FOX) — the Qatar 2022 final rematch. Messi chasing a third world title. Final pick: Spain 2-1 at High confidence (Argentina underdog).
Argentina team page →
🇧🇷 Brazil
Status: ELIMINATED R16
Out in the R16 — beaten 2-1 by Norway at MetLife, a major upset. Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo couldn't break down Norway's low block. Brazil's R16 curse continues at the second straight major tournament.
Brazil team page →
🏴 England
Status: 3RD PLACE · 2026 World Cup — SF2 lost 1-2 to Argentina, 3rd-place won 6-4 vs France at Hard Rock on Sat Jul 18
Beat Congo DR 2-1 (R32), Mexico 3-2 at Azteca in the R16 (Bellingham brace, Kane pen, Quansah red 54'), and Norway 2-1 AET in the QF3 (Schjelderup 36', Bellingham 45'+2' & 93'). Bellingham with 4+ tournament goals. SF2: lost 1-2 to Argentina at Mercedes-Benz (Gordon 55', Fernández 85', L. Martínez 90'+2'). 35 minutes from the final before Argentina's stoppage-time comeback — Gordon's first-half goal (his first international strike) cancelled out by Fernández and L. Martínez. 3rd-place FINAL: won 6-4 vs France at Hard Rock — Saka hat trick (4th English player to score a WC hat trick), Rice, Konsa, Bellingham 90'+6'; Mbappé brace (10th of tournament, 22nd all-time WC surpassing Messi), Barcola, Dembélé for France. England finish 3rd — best WC finish since 1966. Tuchel retains the FA's backing per ESPN and will lead the team to Euro 2028. Full 3rd-place report →
England team page →
🇪🇸 Spain
Status: WORLD CUP FINALIST · MetLife on Sunday (3pm ET)
Yamal and Pedri. La Roja beat Cape Verde in the opener, Austria 3-0 in the R32 (Yamal, Pedri, Olmo), squeezed past Portugal 1-0 in the R16 (Merino 90'+1'), Belgium 2-1 in the QF2 (Fabián Ruiz, De Ketelaere, Merino), and France 2-0 in the SF1 at AT&T Stadium (Oyarzabal 22' pen, Porro 58'). Spain are through to a first WC final since 2010 and the new championship favourites on DraftKings. They now face Argentina at MetLife Stadium on Sunday July 19 (3pm ET, live on FOX) — the Qatar 2022 final rematch. Pedri-Rodri-Olmo controlled the SF1 midfield; Yamal was a constant threat. The pre-match pick (Spain 2-1 AET, Medium confidence) was right on the winner, wrong on the score and extra time. Final pick: Spain 2-1 at High confidence. Full SF1 report →
Spain team page →
🇵🇹 Portugal
Status: ELIMINATED R16
Out in the R16 — beaten 1-0 by Spain in the Iberian derby (Merino 90'+1' winner). Cristiano Ronaldo exits in tears at 41, his sixth and final World Cup ending in the R16 for the second time. Bernardo Silva and Renato Veiga were booked; the Seleção couldn't break down La Roja's back line.
Portugal team page →
🇳🇴 Norway
Status: ELIMINATED QF
Dark horse of the tournament. Haaland powered Norway past Ivory Coast 2-1 (R32) and shocked Brazil 2-1 in the R16 (Haaland brace 79'/90', Neymar pen 90'+10'). Out in the QF3 — beaten 2-1 AET by England at Hard Rock (Schjelderup 36', Bellingham 45'+2' & 93'). Norway's physicality, directness, and Haaland broke Brazil's midfield control; England's midfield depth and set-piece quality decided the tie. A tournament to build on for 2030.
Norway team page →
🇲🇦 Morocco
Status: ELIMINATED QF
The Atlas Lions were the form team of the R16. Morocco beat Canada 3-0 in Houston (En-Nesyri brace, Diaz) to extend an unbeaten knockout run dating to Qatar 2022. Out in the QF1 — beaten 2-0 by France at Gillette (Mbappé 60', Dembélé 66'). Saibari was missing; Brahim Díaz carried the creative load but couldn't break through. Quarter-final pedigree from 2022 proven — but France's individual class told. Tournament still a clear success.
Morocco team page →
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Status: ELIMINATED QF
The form team of the R32/R16. Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 (R32, Xhaka masterclass) and broke their famous penalty curse to oust Colombia 4-3 in the shootout in Vancouver. Out in the QF4 — beaten 3-1 AET by Argentina at Arrowhead (Mac Allister 10', Ndoye 67', Álvarez 112', L. Martínez 120'+1'; Embolo red 72'). Xhaka said post-match a red card "killed the game". Kobel, Xhaka, Amdouni, and Vargas leave the tournament with heads held high — Switzerland's deepest run since Euro 2020.
Switzerland team page →
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