The 2026 World Cup semi-final brackets have been determined, pitting the world's second-ranked Spain against third-ranked France in one fixture, whilst top-ranked Argentina will meet fourth-ranked England in the other. These pairings represent the tournament's most accomplished international sides reaching the competition's final stages.

In recognition of the exceptional quality among the four remaining nations, BBC Sport has launched a fan participation exercise inviting readers to construct their ideal combined XI from the semi-finalists' squads. The initiative underscores the concentration of elite-level talent distributed across all playing positions, with marquee players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane among those available for selection.