Lamine Yamal Names Four Countries To Qualify For 2026 World Cup Semi-finals

Spain winger Lamine Yamal believes France, Spain, Portugal and Argentina will make the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

France have already secured a place in the last 16, where they will face Paraguay, while Portugal take on Croatia in the Round of 32. Argentina are up against Cape Verde and Spain will meet Austria.

Despite the difficult knockout fixtures ahead, Yamal is convinced the four heavyweights will progress to the final four. “In my head, the semifinals should be: France vs Spain and Portugal vs Argentina,” Yamal said.

Meanwhile, USA forward Folarin Balogun became only the fourth player in FIFA World Cup history to score and then receive a red card in a knockout match during his side’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

The 24-year-old found the net before he was dismissed for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. Balogun joins Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Garrincha as the only players to score and be sent off in a World Cup knockout game.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino defended his striker after the match, insisting the challenge was accidental. “Balogun? Never intentional, never a red card,” the coach said.

“Watching it after on TV, it was never the intention to step onto the player; it’s a normal action in football that happens by accident.”