The World Cup is down to France, Spain, England and Argentina. The first semi-final is France against Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, early on Wednesday morning Australian eastern time, and England meet Argentina in Atlanta a day later.
France beat Morocco 2-0 in their quarter-final, and Kylian Mbappe has scored in every match of the tournament, with Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele supplying the service. Spain put out Belgium 2-1, the second consecutive match settled late by a Mikel Merino goal. Lamine Yamal, still a teenager, is into his first World Cup semi-final.
The other semi is the holders against the side with the tournament's top scorer. Argentina, the defending champions, beat Switzerland 3-1 in extra time after Breel Embolo was sent off, and Lionel Messi, now 39, has eight goals in six matches. England edged Norway 2-1 with two goals from Jude Bellingham, who has six for the tournament.
Argentina are chasing back-to-back titles, something no nation has managed since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Opta's tournament model rates France the favourite at 34 per cent, with Spain next at 23 per cent.
The expanded 48-team format has run to 104 matches, up from 64 in Qatar four years ago, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino spent the weekend before the semi-finals saying the door is open to a 64-team World Cup after this one.
The winners meet at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, Monday morning on the Australian east coast. France and Spain go first, from early Wednesday morning AEST.
