It was the final day with multiple games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The quarterfinals were wrapping up. First, at Miami Stadium, two of the world’s best strikers faced off: Harry Kane and England against Erling Haaland and Norway.
Then, it was off to Kansas City Stadium. Lionel Messi and Argentina were taking on Granit Xhaka and Switzerland.
A place in the semi-finals was on the line.
England vs Norway: Bellingham makes Norway row home
Norway has never been this far at a World Cup. They were happy to be in the quarterfinals and wanted to go as far as possible. Meanwhile, England’s expectations were higher. 60 years of pain have been part of the Three Lions, and they did not want to go home this early. The scars of past World Cup exits still hurt.
Both teams were cautious in the opening minutes. Each side was closing down on the other’s attackers. It felt like both England and Norway were trying to figure each other out.
As the game went on, England seemed to have found their rhythm. They were also using the overloads on the left side with Nico O’Reilly and Anthony Gordon. Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson were again dictating the play in the midfield. But Norway’s man-marking was working for them, and they were making sure Kane received no service.
There were warning signs from England as they soon got careless. Stones nearly gave the ball away to Haaland, but Jordan Pickford managed to scoop it up in time. Pickford then made a point-blank save off a Haaland header.
Norway struck first, but it was courtesy of Andreas Schjelderup. After Kane was tackled in the midfield (he claimed that he was fouled but it didn’t look like it), Schjelderup cut into the box. The Benfica left winger then blasted a thunderous strike that went off the post and past Pickford.
England’s attack was slow and lethargic. Nothing they were doing was threatening. But Jude Bellingham changed that. The Real Madrid midfielder took Gordon’s pass and charged into the box past the Norwegian defenders and beat Ørjan Nyland. Game on. Bellingham has had an outstanding World Cup.
England needed that as they went into halftime tied with Norway.
Norway applied some pressure seven minutes into the second half. England failed to clear the corner kick, and Torbjørn Heggem was left alone and put the ball into the net. Pickford was also lost in his goal. However, VAR intervened, and the referee disallowed the goal because Haaland pushed his new Manchester City teammate, Anderson, to the ground.
Norway continued to put pressure on as they pushed England back into their own half. The English were also having trouble breaking out. When they did, they made a mess of it. Norway couldn’t get good chances on Pickford either.
In the 75th minute, Norway nearly retook the lead. It was chaos in the box as Patrick Berg whipped in the corner and Kristoffer Ajer’s header hit the crossbar. Norway looked like the hungrier side.
England slowly started to turn things on. Substitutes Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze nearly connected for the winning goal. But Saka’s pass was just out of Eze’s reach. Another substitute, Djed Spence, pressed and nearly forced Nyland into giving the ball away, but it was deflected for a goal kick.
Well, it felt like it, but this game needed an extra 30 minutes.
Three minutes into the extra frame, Bellingham once again came in clutch. Nyland couldn’t handle substitute Morgan Rogers’ long-distance shot, and Bellingham put in the rebound. Beligol was at it again.
Six minutes later, it looked like Spence won a penalty for England. But after a VAR check, it wasn’t given because he dove.
Norway pushed for the equalizer (even by taking Haaland off), but England hung on. That included a huge block by Marc Guehi.
The Three Lions were roaring into the semi-finals while the Røde, Hvite, Blå were rowing home. Once again, the England team sang Wonderwall by Oasis with their fans. Some might say they will find a brighter day because it looked very possible that football would be coming home. England fans were feeling Supersonic.
Argentina vs Switzerland: Argentina prevails in extra time
Throughout this World Cup, Switzerland played efficient yet effective soccer. They are not the flashiest team, but they know how to win. The Swiss had a huge task as they faced reigning World Champions Argentina in Kansas City.
It took just 10 minutes for Argentina to strike. Messi delivered the corner, and Alexis Mac Allister headed the ball past Gregor Kobel.
Then Switzerland had the bulk of possession. But their final third play was poor, and the Argentinian backline was very solid. Swiss striker Breel Embolo nearly tied the game for the Swiss, but Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martinez made a smart play to prevent Embolo from taking the shot.
In the second half, Switzerland looked dangerous. They started moving the ball quicker, and it looked like the Argentinian defence was showing cracks. Martinez was standing tall between the sticks.
It felt inevitable that the Swiss would tie the game. In the 67th minute, Dan Ndoye nutmegged Martinez (or shot in through the five hole as they say in hockey) and the Swiss had life.
Of course, a game involving Argentina needed to have some controversy. At first, it looked like Leandro Parades got a yellow card for taking down Embolo. But the referee was called to the VAR monitor, and he rescinded the yellow for Parades and gave Embolo a second yellow for diving. Embolo was also in tears as he left the pitch.
Let’s face it, that was a clear dive from Embolo. He looked like an Olympic swimmer. But what has upset people is the way it was called and the fact that VAR intervened. VAR has been at the centre of controversy in this World Cup, and it has ruined the flow of games.
You might wonder why Parades got his yellow suspended. They are allowed to do that. It happened to USA captain Tim Ream in their game against Paraguay. It is a new law that VAR can rescind cards.
However, this whole thing is still causing debates online and rightfully so. The whole thing seems confusing.
For the second time on Saturday, we were heading to extra time. In the second period of extra time, Julian Alvarez scored this absolute banger to give Argentina the lead. What a way for him to get his first World Cup goal.
The Swiss then went all-out with their attack, but their resistance was futile. Lautaro Martinez then sealed the win and set Argentina up for a semi-final date with England.
Stat/Masterclass of the day
This is insane, and so is Bellingham.
Disasterclass of the day
This goes to Embolo and his dive.
Fan moment of the day
Got to love banter.
Meme of the day
Argentina haven’t been at their best in the knockout round and had to claw their way to wins via extra time. But they don’t ask how; it matters that they win.
Wrap-up
So the semi-finals are set. For the first time since FIFA introduced rankings in 1992, the semi-finals will consist of the top four teams.
It starts at noon Pacific from Dallas Stadium on Tuesday. France takes on Spain. Then on Wednesday at noon Pacific from Atlanta Stadium, England take on Argentina.
Who will reach the final? Tune in to find out.
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