The 2026 World Cup is entering its final stretch.
Only four of the original 48 teams remain in the hunt for soccer's most coveted trophy. To kick off the final stage, our expert staff put together their best picks and predictions for the World Cup semifinals.
So, let's dive into our World Cup best bets and semifinal predictions.
World Cup Semifinals: Best Bets, Expert Picks
The team logos in the table below represent each of the World Cup matchups that our staff is targeting. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Date & Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | July 14 – 3:00 p.m. | |
  | July 15 – 3:00 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our World Cup odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
France vs Spain Best Bets
By Carlos Avilan
France has looked unstoppable, which is why teams have been trying anything they can think of (e.g., Paraguay) to delay the inevitable: France's opening goal. This has led to all three of their knockout matches having more goals in the second half.
Spain might be the first opponent in this World Cup that doesn't fear France. They have defeated them in their past two meetings, with scores of 5-4 (Nations League 2025 semifinal) and 2-1 (Euro 2024 semifinal). So, another year, another semifinal between them, and France may be thinking the third time is the charm.
However, things might not change much regarding our pick. Spain won't be as cautious as other teams, but two of their three knockout matches also had higher-scoring second halves, so I'm backing the trend to continue here.
Pick: Half With Most Goals – 2nd Half (+112, FanDuel)
By Camil Straschnoy
France currently leads the 2026 World Cup with a staggering 47 shots on target. That offensive dominance makes perfect sense given their firepower up front, spearheaded by the formidable trio of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.
During the quarterfinals against Morocco, Les Bleus peppered the net with 8 shots on goal, which followed a 5-shot-on-target performance against Paraguay in the Round of 16.
On the other side, Spain features the tournament's premier goalkeeper in Unai Simon, who leads the World Cup in clean sheets. However, the Athletic Club netminder is highly anticipated to face his heaviest workload of the tournament in this matchup. With the line set at 4+ saves, taking the over at plus-money offers immense value for bettors.
Pick: Unai Simon Over 4+ Saves (+135, DraftKings)
By Action Network Staff
Spain have the best defense at the 2026 World Cup. They conceded just one goal, and that lone goal came in the quarterfinals against Belgium.
One goal allowed from a 1.84 xGA (Expected Goals Allowed) and only seven shots on target against suggests an extremely organized defense, but it’s not going to be easy against one of the best teams and attacks in the world.
France scored over 1.5 goals in five of their six games at this World Cup. The only time they failed to do so was in the Round of 16 game against Paraguay, which France won 1-0.
We can’t ignore the fact that France have yet to concede in the knockout stage; however, after facing Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco, they now have the reigning European champions in a battle for the final.
Although both teams have rock-solid defenses, don’t expect a scoreless stalemate here. There are too many top-quality players on each side, so it would be shocking not seeing goals. Each of the last three head-to-head meetings produced goals on both sides and combined over 2.5 goals.
Pick: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-150, bet365)
England vs Argentina Best Bets
By Carlos Avilan
England have scored two or more goals in their past four matches, and Argentina have done so in all six of their contests so far in this tournament.
This is a rivalry that goes way back, involving not only sports but the history of both countries, with heated and controversial World Cup matches in 1986, 1998 and 2002.
So, expect tension and drama throughout, which could lead to mistakes and back-and-forth action as soon as one of them scores.
Pick: Both Teams to Score – Yes (-106, bet365)
By Camil Straschnoy
Few international soccer fixtures carry a more heated history than this one. It is a bitter rivalry that transcends the sport, defined on the pitch by legendary chapters like the controversial dismissal of the late Antonio Rattín in 1966, and Diego Maradona’s iconic "Hand of God" in 1986.
The last time these two powerhouses met in a World Cup knockout stage was the 1998 Round of 16. That fiery encounter produced 7 total cards, including 6 yellows and the infamous straight red issued to David Beckham.
Given the immense historical baggage, the high stakes of the tournament, and the plus-money price tag, betting the Over on 3.5 cards provides excellent value.
Pick: Over 3.5 Total Cards (+120, FanDuel)
