Elfath, an American citizen born in Morocco, will officiate the England-Argentina clash, with fellow Americans Corey Parker and Kyle Atkins serving as his assistant referees.

Standing tall, chest puffed out, and arms outstretched, Jude Bellingham’s trademark celebration has become one of the defining images of England’s World Cup.

When the defending champions face England in Thursday's World Cup semifinal in Atlanta [1am, Bangladesh Time], Lionel Messi and company will swap their traditional sky blue and white stripes for their dark blue away kit.

The technology introduced to eliminate controversy has become the tournament's defining subplot, and Argentina, fairly or otherwise, have found themselves at its centre.

The bottom line is that both teams have repeatedly found a way to win even when the odds appeared stacked against them. Neither, however, has produced the convincing, dominant display expected of a potential champion.

Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister has urged his team to take inspiration from Diego Maradona as they seek to get the better of England in their World Cup semifinal on Thursday.

Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. These are not the names most casual World Cup viewers would recognise.

Pedro Porro, who scored Spain's second goal in the 2-0 win over favourites France on Wednesday, said reaching the World Cup final was "a dream come true".

Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France's World Cup dream on Wednesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side's 2-0 semifinal defeat to France.

France coach Didier Deschamps said his players were left "devastated" by their World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain on Wedesday before aiming a barb at match referee Ivan Barton from El Salvador.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente saluted his players as the "best team in the world" on Wednesday after a stunning 2-0 World Cup semifinal win over France.

Spain delivered another composed and clinical display to defeat France 2-0 and book their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday.

From the opening whistle, the Spaniards wrapped themselves around France like an anaconda, tightening their grip with every wave of pressing and every spell of possession until the life had been squeezed from a French attack that had looked irresistible throughout the tournament.

The headband featured the inscriptions "08304" and "Rocafonda", a tribute to the neighbourhood in Mataró where Yamal grew up. The number 08304 was the area's postal code, while Rocafonda was the community the teenager proudly considered home.

European champions Spain beat France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday, producing a controlled display to book a place in Sunday's final.

Many refuse to say opponents' names, wear the same often-unwashed jerseys, sit in the same seats and eat the same meals before each match, convinced that changing anything could jinx the team's chances of lifting another trophy.

France recalled Bradley Barcola to their attack and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield for their World Cup semifinal against Spain on Wednesday as Luis de la Fuente named an unchanged side.

More than a month after the tournament got underway, the first semifinal at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, promises to be a blockbuster contest. Widely billed as the 'final before the final', the clash is expected to deliver the highest quality game.

Around 90,000 people welcomed back Norway's players to Oslo on Monday after they returned home from making a historic run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Lamine Yamal turned 19 on Monday with diamonds around his neck, mischief in the family and the biggest match of his life ahead but the Spain forward's clearest message before the World Cup semi-final against France was not about goals, gifts or fame.