Semi-final
Englandv
Argentina
21D AI saysEngland51%
The big one, England against the holders for a place in the final, and there is barely a cigarette paper between them. Get the flags out, the Three Lions edge a classic.
We let 21D AI call the whole World Cup.
Predicted championSpain
England leave everything out there, but Spain are the complete side now, patient on the ball and ruthless on the counter. La Roja lift it and the wait goes on.
The headline calls
Runner-upEnglandGolden bootHarry KaneDark horse
Norway
EnglandGolden bootHarry KaneDark horseNorwayMatchday
Today's games
EnglandvArgentina
The knockouts
The road to the MetLife final
R32
Paraguay
Germany
We backed Germany's class, but Paraguay dug in, dragged it to a shootout and held their nerve. The best-third battlers march on and we cop the miss.
21D AI predicted Germany
France
Sweden
Gyokeres and Isak carry a threat, but France had too much everywhere you looked. Les Bleus strolled.
Canada
South Africa
South Africa wrote a fairy tale to get here, but Canada had the firepower and a roaring crowd lifting them. The Canucks edged a noisy one.
Morocco
Netherlands
The pick of the round, two sides who never lost a group game, and we fancied the Atlas Lions and their system to spring the shock. They did.
Portugal
Croatia
Modric against Ronaldo, old heads all over the pitch, and Portugal's depth outlasted a stubborn Croatia just as we called it.
Spain
Austria
Austria were organised and relentless, but Spain kept the ball on a string and passed them dizzy. Normal service.
R16
France
Paraguay
Paraguay's shootout heroics dumped Germany out, but France were a different mountain. Too much pace, too much depth, and no second miracle.
Morocco
Canada
Morocco had already binned the Dutch, and their system was the tale of the tournament. The crowd roared Canada on, but the Atlas Lions quietened it in style.
Quarters
Semis
Final
MetLife Stadium
19 July 2026
Spain58%England42%England leave everything out there, but Spain are the complete side now, patient on the ball and ruthless on the counter. La Roja lift it and the wait goes on.
Semis
Quarters
England
Norway
Called it. Norway's giant-killing run finally hit a wall, and England's depth and nous told once it went to extra time. The Three Lions are into the semis.
Argentina
Switzerland
Called it. Switzerland scrapped to the bitter end and forced extra time, but the holders had far too much and pulled clear. Argentina stroll into the last four.
R16
Norway
Brazil
We backed Brazil's quality, but Haaland and the Norwegians had other ideas and pulled off the shock of the knockouts. Hands up, we got this one wrong.
21D AI predicted Brazil
England
Mexico
The hosts brought the noise after seeing off Ecuador, but England's strength in depth was a cut above. The Three Lions marched on, exactly as called.
Argentina
Egypt
Egypt held their nerve from the spot to see off Australia and Salah fancied it, but the holders had answers everywhere. Argentina eased through.
Switzerland
Colombia
We backed Colombia's flair, but Switzerland were a tough nut to crack and held out to win the shootout. The Swiss keep finding a way and we cop the miss.
21D AI predicted Colombia
R32
Brazil
Japan
Japan were quick and fearless and had a proper go, but Brazil's firepower was a class above. The Selecao marched on.
Norway
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast carried real bite and made it tense, then Haaland happened. Called it.
Mexico
Ecuador
Ecuador arrived buzzing after toppling Germany, but a fearless Mexico rode the wall of noise and shaded it. Nailed on.
England
DR Congo
DR Congo's gatecrash was a joy, but England's strength in depth was a level beyond. The Three Lions eased through.
Argentina
Cape Verde
Cape Verde's history-making run was magic and they made the holders sweat to extra time, but Argentina had the class to finish it. Called it.
Egypt
Australia
A proper coin-flip between two well-matched sides, and Salah's edge just tipped it Egypt's way from the spot. Called it.
Switzerland
Algeria
Algeria scraped in on the best-third lottery and ran into a tidy, ruthless Swiss side. Switzerland through, exactly as forecast.
Canada
Through
South Africa wrote a fairy tale to get here, but Canada had the firepower and a roaring crowd lifting them. The Canucks edged a noisy one.
Paraguay
Through
We backed Germany's class, but Paraguay dug in, dragged it to a shootout and held their nerve. The best-third battlers march on and we cop the miss.
21D AI predicted Germany
Morocco
Through
The pick of the round, two sides who never lost a group game, and we fancied the Atlas Lions and their system to spring the shock. They did.
Brazil
Through
Japan were quick and fearless and had a proper go, but Brazil's firepower was a class above. The Selecao marched on.
France
Through
Gyokeres and Isak carry a threat, but France had too much everywhere you looked. Les Bleus strolled.
Norway
Through
Ivory Coast carried real bite and made it tense, then Haaland happened. Called it.
Mexico
Through
Ecuador arrived buzzing after toppling Germany, but a fearless Mexico rode the wall of noise and shaded it. Nailed on.
England
Through
DR Congo's gatecrash was a joy, but England's strength in depth was a level beyond. The Three Lions eased through.
United States
Through
A genuine coin-flip tightened by Pulisic's absence, but a roaring crowd nudged it the USA's way. Called it.
Belgium
Through
Senegal poured everything into it and dragged Belgium to extra time, but a patched-up Red Devils side found the class to see it out. Called it.
Portugal
Through
Modric against Ronaldo, old heads all over the pitch, and Portugal's depth outlasted a stubborn Croatia just as we called it.
Spain
Through
Austria were organised and relentless, but Spain kept the ball on a string and passed them dizzy. Normal service.
Switzerland
Through
Algeria scraped in on the best-third lottery and ran into a tidy, ruthless Swiss side. Switzerland through, exactly as forecast.
Argentina
Through
Cape Verde's history-making run was magic and they made the holders sweat to extra time, but Argentina had the class to finish it. Called it.
Colombia
Through
Ghana scrapped in on the best-third maths, but Colombia topped a brutal group unbeaten with flair to burn. The Cafeteros rolled on.
Egypt
Through
A proper coin-flip between two well-matched sides, and Salah's edge just tipped it Egypt's way from the spot. Called it.
France
Through
Paraguay's shootout heroics dumped Germany out, but France were a different mountain. Too much pace, too much depth, and no second miracle.
Morocco
Through
Morocco had already binned the Dutch, and their system was the tale of the tournament. The crowd roared Canada on, but the Atlas Lions quietened it in style.
Norway
Through
We backed Brazil's quality, but Haaland and the Norwegians had other ideas and pulled off the shock of the knockouts. Hands up, we got this one wrong.
21D AI predicted Brazil
England
Through
The hosts brought the noise after seeing off Ecuador, but England's strength in depth was a cut above. The Three Lions marched on, exactly as called.
Spain
Through
An Iberian heavyweight settled by the finest of margins, and Spain's midfield ran the show against the old rivals just as we called it. La Roja into the last eight and Ronaldo's tournament is done.
Belgium
Through
The crowd roared but Belgium's class told in the end, pulling clear even shorn of Doku. Called the coin-flip, if they made it look a touch comfier than we dared.
Argentina
Through
Egypt held their nerve from the spot to see off Australia and Salah fancied it, but the holders had answers everywhere. Argentina eased through.
Switzerland
Through
We backed Colombia's flair, but Switzerland were a tough nut to crack and held out to win the shootout. The Swiss keep finding a way and we cop the miss.
21D AI predicted Colombia
France
Through
Called it. Morocco's dream run was the story of the tournament, but France's cutting edge was a level beyond and the Atlas Lions bowed out with heads held high.
Spain
Through
Called it. Belgium battled and had their moments, but Spain's midfield had the final say and the box-office semi with France is locked in.
England
Through
Called it. Norway's giant-killing run finally hit a wall, and England's depth and nous told once it went to extra time. The Three Lions are into the semis.
Argentina
Through
Called it. Switzerland scrapped to the bitter end and forced extra time, but the holders had far too much and pulled clear. Argentina stroll into the last four.
Spain
Through
We tipped France to shade it on the break, but Spain kept the ball on a string, smothered Mbappe and cruised into the final. The miss of the tournament, and La Roja suddenly look the side to beat.
21D AI predicted France
England
51%
The big one, England against the holders for a place in the final, and there is barely a cigarette paper between them. Get the flags out, the Three Lions edge a classic.
MetLife Stadium
19 July 2026
Spain58%England42%England leave everything out there, but Spain are the complete side now, patient on the ball and ruthless on the counter. La Roja lift it and the wait goes on.