The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently observing a two-day break in play following the conclusion of the semifinal round. With no matches scheduled for Thursday, July 16, or Friday, July 17, the tournament will resume Saturday, July 18, with the third-place match between France and England, followed by the final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday, July 19.
The Path to the 2026 World Cup Final
The semifinal stage solidified the final pairings after two distinct matches. Spain secured its place in the championship match by defeating France 2-0. This victory moved Spain into its first World Cup final since its title-winning run in 2010. Spain’s defensive record has been a defining feature of its tournament, having surrendered only one goal across seven matches while keeping six clean sheets. Furthermore, the win extended Spain’s unbeaten streak in international play to 37 consecutive matches, matching the record previously set by Italy between 2018 and 2021.
Argentina earned the second spot in the final after a 2-1 victory over England. The match remained competitive until the final minutes, when Enzo Fernández equalized in the 85th minute and Lautaro Martínez scored the decisive goal two minutes into stoppage time. Lionel Messi provided the assists for both goals, bringing his career total to 12, a record for the FIFA World Cup. Argentina is now seeking to become the first nation to win consecutive men’s World Cup titles since Brazil achieved the feat in 1958 and 1962.
Third-Place Playoff: France vs. England
Before the tournament concludes, France and England will meet in the third-place match on Saturday, July 18, at Miami Stadium in Miami, Florida. The match is scheduled for a 5 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast on FOX, with streaming options available on FOX One.
France enters the match following its defeat to Spain. Prior to the 2-0 semifinal defeat to Spain, the French side had won six consecutive games and maintained a 16-2 goal differential. Key individual performers include Kylian Mbappé, who remains tied with Lionel Messi for the tournament lead with eight goals, and Michael Olise, who leads all players with five assists.
England’s journey to the third-place match follows a narrow loss to Argentina in a semifinal. England’s offensive production has been led by Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have each recorded six goals during the 2026 campaign.
Tournament Schedule and Broadcast Information
The final weekend of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast on FOX, with live streaming available via the FOX One platform.
| Match | Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Place Match: France vs. England | Saturday, July 18 | 5:00 p.m. | Miami Stadium |
| World Cup Final: Spain vs. Argentina | Sunday, July 19 | 3:00 p.m. | New York New Jersey Stadium |
The final match between Spain and Argentina will take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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