2026 World Cup updates: England vs Argentina, Spain vs France in semifinals

ByABC13 Digital Team KTRK logo
Last updated: Monday, July 13, 2026 4:46PM GMT
ABC13 Houston 24/7 Live Stream

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The FIFA World Cup is here, and Houstonians are expected to swarm fan events and local businesses as the soccer event seizes the summer.

H-Town hosted seven matches, but fans will have plenty more to enjoy around the Bayou City.

ABC13 has live updates to keep all Houstonians, from soccer aficionados to commuters looking to dodge traffic, informed throughout the multi-country event.

For the latest breaking news, weather, and traffic, ABC13 is now live on Disney+. Always on, always under the live tab on Disney+ and everywhere you stream.

KTRK logo
Jun 11, 2026, 9:56 PM

FIFA Fan Festival Houston: What you need to know

FIFA described its fan experience as the ultimate destination for World Cup fans in Houston, and ABC13 got a first look at some of the featured experiences before it opened to the public.

The festival is located just east of downtown Houston, next to Shell Energy Stadium. It will be open every day of the World Cup and is a first-come, first-served venue where fans can watch all the matches for free.

FIFA said there are several experiences fans can partake in at the festival, and since it's taking place in the Houston heat, organizers say there will be misting zones, water stations, and shaded areas.

SEE ALSO: Questions about security ahead of FIFA World Cup in Houston

AP logo
Jul 13, 2026, 2:20 PM GMT

Police to investigate South African soccer player's death

Police said Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa World Cup soccer player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.

The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.

Authorities have not released a cause of death.

"Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday," police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation."

Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.

Adams' father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday that the family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.

"As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it," Juanito Adams said. "It won't be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won't. You just learn to live with it."

Adams played in all three of South Africa's group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 1-0 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.

South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team's group game against the Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to "exercise restraint and compassion" and not speculate on the cause of Adams' death while authorities conduct an investigation.

There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ByJames Robson AP logo
Jul 12, 2026, 9:02 PM GMT

World Cup semifinals: Four previous champions, a bitter rivalry, Mbappé vs Yamal and Messi vs Kane

ATLANTA (AP) -- It's a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages.

Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers, one GOAT and one of the bitterest rivalries in soccer.

Argentina, Spain, France and England went into the tournament as the top four in FIFA's rankings and are two wins away from being crowned champion of the world again. It's just too close to call either semifinal matchup: France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday and England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Not since 1990 has the final four of a World Cup been made up entirely of previous winners. England and Argentina were involved then, although they didn't play each other. Then, like now, Argentina was the defending champion - after beating West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico - and went on to lose to West Germany in the 1990 final.

And this year could also see a repeat of the 2022 final if France and Argentina both advance.

England vs. Argentina: A bitter rivalry

Argentina must overcome England in a match that resumes a fierce rivalry that goes beyond the soccer field, with tensions also relating to the 1982 conflict over the Falklands Islands.

On the field there have been numerous flashpoints between the teams on the World Cup stage. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, whose death was announced on Saturday, was sent off in a bad-tempered quarterfinal match against winner England in 1966. England manager Alf Ramsey tried to stop his players from swapping shirts with their opponents after a 1-0 victory.

Roll the clock forward 20 years and in 1986 Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal helped Argentina to a 2-1 win against England in the quarterfinals on the way to lifting the trophy.

David Beckham was sent off in 1998 for kicking out at Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone, who was predictably criticized by the English media for his reaction to what appeared to be light contact. Argentina won the round of 16 match on penalties.

Beckham got his revenge four years later by scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win that contributed to Argentina being eliminated at the group stage.

France vs. Spain: A quick chance for French revenge

France and Spain meet again in the semifinals of a major tournament, just two years since going head-to-head at the European Championship.

Spain won 2-1 with a then-16-year-old Lamine Yamal on the score sheet and went on to lift the Euros by beating England in the final.

Kylian Mbappé's powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through.

Two years on and France is widely regarded to have been the most impressive team of this World Cup with a dizzying array of attacking talent and the joint leading scorer in Mbappé ahead of the semifinal on France's Bastille Day.

In contrast Spain had to contend with injuries to Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams coming into the tournament and has relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to edge past Portugal and Belgium in the last two rounds.

The nations have met on a number of occasions at the World Cup or Euros. France beat Spain in the final of Euro 84.

The race for the Golden Boot

It has become a thrilling competition within the tournament as many of the world's most lethal finishers have all turned up in peak form.

Erling Haaland may be out of the race, but five of the six top scorers are still standing and others could yet force their way into the race for the Golden Boot.

Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the way with eight goals each. Haaland has seven, but he cannot add to that number after Norway was eliminated by England in the quarterfinals.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six each, while Ousmane Dembélé is on five.

Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals, so could yet challenge if Spain overcomes France in the semifinals.

There's also the contest for the all-time top scorer at World Cups overall with Messi on 21 goals and Mbappé on 20.

That man Messi

He is already considered by many to be the greatest of all time - the GOAT - and his performances at what is likely his last World Cup, aged 39, have only strengthened that argument. This will be Messi's first-ever game against England.

If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he would surpass the great Maradona by winning two World Cups for his country.

Argentina would also become the first back-to-back champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Soccer great Pelé was part of those Brazil teams and also went on to win a third World Cup in 1970.

ByTIM REYNOLDS AP logo
Jul 11, 2026, 12:56 PM GMT

It's England against Norway in the World Cup quarterfinals, with all eyes on Erling Haaland

Everyone knows that England's master plan coming into the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday will revolve around stopping Norway striker Erling Haaland.

As they would say in Norway, "Lykke til." Translated: Good luck.

"Has anyone ever stopped Erling Haaland?" England midfielder Morgan Rogers asked, probably only somewhat rhetorically. "I'm not sure they have, but we're going to try. You're going to have to try."

Stopping Haaland - who has seven goals in this year's World Cup, one behind France's Kylian Mbappé and Argentina's Lionel Messi for the most at the tournament - will be the primary subplot of the Norway-England match at Hard Rock Stadium.

Among the others: Haaland versus England's Harry Kane in a striker showdown, a Norway team with no pressure versus an England team with enormous expectations, even British Airways versus Norwegian Air in a social media chirping battle. At stake for the teams is a berth in Wednesday's semifinals, with the winner to face either Argentina or Switzerland.

"I think it's Norway vs. England," Norway coach Stle Solbakken said Friday, after his team went through its final walk-through before perhaps the biggest match in the nation's soccer history. "But I don't think it's a secret that Kane is match-leader No. 1 for England and Haaland is match-leader No. 1 for us."

Indeed, there are two elite strikers in this game - not just one. England coach Thomas Tuchel raved about Kane on Friday, and rightly so. Kane has six goals so far in this year's World Cup.

"He's in the shape of his life and in the highest peak of his career," Tuchel said.

When Haaland - who stands nearly 6-foot-5 - gets the ball in his preferred spots, opponents realize that stopping him is almost out of the question. He's too big, too strong, too skilled, and the ball is almost certainly going to find its way into the back of the net.

England's Nico O'Reilly - Haaland's teammate at Manchester City - has seen it happen time and again. And if there is a solution to the Haaland problem, O'Reilly might have the closest possible thing to an answer.

His plan: Don't let the ball get to him.

"We all know what he's like," O'Reilly said. "He can score goals, he's dangerous in the box, he's a real threat. They need to get him the ball there first."

Haaland - who didn't play for Norway in its loss to France in the group stage - has gotten his goals in bunches in this tournament. Against Iraq, his two goals came 14 minutes apart. Against Senegal, his two goals were 10 minutes apart. Against Brazil, his two goals were 11 minutes apart.

He was born in England; his father was playing for Leeds at that time. And Haaland certainly sees the significance.

"It's a special game, definitely," Haaland said. "I think, for me, it's super special because I play in England and I'm born in England and I'll be playing against (Manchester City) teammates and everything."

It's not just Haaland in that friends-turned-foes spot. There are nine players for Norway who play for clubs in England, so there will obviously be familiarity between the sides on Saturday.

"Everything is on the line," O'Reilly said. "Everything is at stake."

Both teams riding high

The teams got to Saturday's match in dramatic fashion, with Norway holding off perennial power and five-time World Cup champion Brazil 2-1 and England going into Mexico City and stunning previously unbeaten - and unscored-upon - co-host Mexico 3-2.

Both sides have acknowledged that coming down from the high of such wins took a little extra time.

"We discussed that we need to put the drama and the emotions of the Mexico game behind us," England forward Bukayo Saka said. "Now we need to focus on Norway, which is going to be another tough challenge, a different challenge, and we're fully focused."

They might be close to fully loaded, too.

Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Reece James, all sidelined in recent days, trained Friday and Tuchel said he anticipates having a "full choice" awaiting him when the lineup for Saturday gets decided. England will be without defender Jarell Quansah as he begins serving his two-match suspension that was handed down after he got red-carded against Mexico in the round of 16.

Rice, Guehi and James all went through training Friday at Inter Miami's facility, with team co-owner David Beckham - a former England great - watching.

"I think there's some clear favorites out there. England's one of them," Haaland said. "So, I think all of you should put every single (bit of) pressure on the English lads."

Haaland said that with a smile, and that's been the case all tournament long. He's enjoying this, on the field and off.

He's a walking, talking meme, someone who draws tons of attention for everything he does and says. When English great Wayne Rooney said he'd row ( a nod to Norway's rowing tradition ) down the River Mersey if Norway beat Brazil, those words got to Haaland - who, according to reports in British media, has reminded Rooney that he's got some rowing to do.

All eyes will be on Haaland. England will have to figure out a way to solve him, or else its World Cup run will end in Miami.

"I think it's the biggest challenge," Rogers said, "but it's a challenge that excites this group."

AP logo
Jul 11, 2026, 12:56 PM GMT

FIFA selling the field to be used for the World Cup final in $450 pieces

Even the field for the World Cup final is for sale.

FIFA, accused of charging high prices for this year's tournament in the United States, is selling the grass that will be used for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey at $450 per piece.

FIFA's store says each segment of turf is 17.5 by 17.5 by 17.5, although it doesn't specify whether that figure is inches, centimeters or millimeters. Soccer's governing body did not immediately respond to an email requesting details of the dimensions.

"Own a genuine piece of football history with an authentic 2026 FIFA World Cup Piece of the pitch, permanently preserved in a premium acrylic with a USB keepsake," the website says. "Each piece contains an original fragment of the iconic Final playing surface, making it a unique collectible that celebrates one of the world's greatest sporting events."

FIFA said "the acrylic USB features an authenticity film, while offering a sleek, contemporary display piece. Presented in a premium hinged shoulder box with striking spot UV detailing, this exclusive item is designed for collectors, fans, and football enthusiasts alike."

FIFA is making the turf available to send only to addresses in the United States and Europe.

"Orders will not be shipped until after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final," the governing body said.

Players and coaches have criticized the quality of the field at MetLife, which usually uses an artificial surface for NFL games of the New York Giants and Jets.

FIFA is selling regular tickets for the final at up to $32,970 for the final and is asking $34,500 and $32,500 for hospitality tickets that include food and drinks.