What happened at the World Cup on July 11, 2026?

Two dramatic quarterfinals, both settled in extra time, set up a mouthwatering semifinal. Argentina beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1, sealed by a stunning Julián Álvarez strike, and England edged Norway 2-1 thanks to another Jude Bellingham double — ending Erling Haaland's World Cup. The reward: Argentina vs England, one of football's most historic rivalries, in the semifinals.

World Cup July 11: Argentina & England Reach the Semis

1. Argentina march on — Álvarez with a moment of magic

The champions are into the semifinals again, but they had to work for it. Alexis Mac Allister headed Argentina ahead early from a Messi corner, before Dan Ndoye levelled for Switzerland. The tie swung when Breel Embolo was sent off for a second yellow, leaving the Swiss with 10 men — and in extra time, Julián Álvarez settled it with a jaw-dropping 25-yard curler into the top corner. Lautaro Martínez added a late third for 3-1. Argentina reach the last four for the third time in four World Cups.

2. Bellingham does it again — England knock out Haaland

England have found a superstar for the big moments. Norway led through an Andreas Schjelderup goal, and the Three Lions were staring at elimination — until Jude Bellingham equalized in stoppage time and then struck the winner in extra time for a 2-1 victory. It's the second time this tournament Bellingham has dragged England through a knockout thriller (the Azteca classic against Mexico was the first). England are into the semifinals, and their young star is writing his legend.

3. Haaland's brilliant World Cup ends

Heartbreak for one of the tournament's biggest stories. Erling Haaland, playing in his first-ever World Cup, had carried Norway on an unforgettable run — knocking out Brazil along the way — and finished as one of the top scorers. But there was no fairytale ending: England's resilience ended Norway's dream at the quarterfinal stage. Haaland leaves as one of the players of the tournament, and a global superstar cemented on the biggest stage.

4. Argentina vs England — the semifinal everyone wanted

This is a tie dripping with history. Argentina and England is one of the most charged rivalries in world football, loaded with unforgettable World Cup meetings across the decades. Now the reigning champions and Lionel Messi will face a resurgent England and Jude Bellingham for a place in the final. Old rivalry, new stars, everything on the line — it doesn't get much bigger than this.

5. A stat worth sharing

The semifinals are set and they are heavyweight: Argentina vs England, and Spain vs France. That's the reigning champions, the 2018 winners, and two more of the sport's elite nations — all four unbeaten or nearly so, all four brimming with stars. Notably, all three World Cup hosts are long gone; the final four are entirely European and South American giants. The business end of this tournament is going to be spectacular.

What to Watch Today

There's a break before the semifinals: Spain vs France on July 14 and Argentina vs England to follow. Check WorldCupExplained.com for the full bracket, kickoff times in your time zone, and previews of both semifinals.