Latin America Sports Daily for Tuesday, July 14, 2026

France vs Spain opens World Cup semi-finals in Texas

World Cup

The first 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final pitches France vs Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, today at 2pm local time / 3pm ET. France came through the knockout rounds in the United States half of the bracket and are chasing a third world title after their 1998 and 2018 triumphs.

Spain, European champions in 2012 and World Cup winners in 2010, are back in the last four as they attempt to reclaim the global crown 16 years after their only title. The winner in Arlington advances to the 2026 World Cup final against either England or Argentina, a prospect followed closely across Latin America given Argentina’s presence on the other side of the draw.

AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, has been one of the flagship venues of this expanded 48-team World Cup, underlining how CONCACAF and CONMEBOL audiences are sharing the tournament across the Americas.

Argentina set for England semi-final after crushing Brazil in qualifying

World Cup

Argentina booked their 2026 World Cup place early with a 4-1 win over Brazil in a CONMEBOL qualifier at Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires on 25 March 2025. Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández scored for Argentina, who became the first South American team to mathematically secure a spot at this World Cup after Bolivia drew with Uruguay later that day.

Brazil’s heavy defeat in that qualifier piled pressure on coach Dorival Júnior and underlined Argentina’s supremacy in the region coming into this tournament. That backdrop colours Wednesday’s semi-final, when Argentina meet England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 3pm ET for a place in the 2026 final.

The Atlanta semi-final revives one of the World Cup’s most storied cross-continental rivalries, with global audiences remembering clashes such as 1986 and 1998 and now watching the reigning champions try to keep South America’s flag flying in a tournament staged across North America.

Copa Libertadores last-16 draw sets Brazil–Argentina club routes

Football

CONMEBOL has confirmed the 2026 Copa Libertadores final stages, with the round of 16 running from 11–13 August for first legs and 18–20 August for second legs, after the World Cup ends. A draw held at CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, has mapped out the pairings for the first knockout round.

According to the draw, notable ties include Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteño, Cruzeiro vs Flamengo, Fluminense vs Independiente Rivadavia, and Rosario Central vs Corinthians, alongside fixtures such as Estudiantes de La Plata vs Universidad Católica, Mirassol vs LDU Quito, Deportes Tolima vs Independiente del Valle and Platense vs Coquimbo Unido. This structure means Brazil and Argentina’s leading clubs are spread across the bracket, preserving the possibility of heavyweight cross-border clashes deeper in the competition.

The final stages culminate in a single-match final at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 28 November 2026, continuing CONMEBOL’s policy of a one-off showpiece at a neutral venue.

Centenario in Montevideo confirmed again as Libertadores final stage

Analysis

CONMEBOL’s competition documents confirm that the 2026 Copa Libertadores final stages will run from 11 August to 28 November 2026, with 16 teams contesting the knockout rounds. The confederation has designated Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, as the venue for the 28 November final, a stadium historically associated with the inaugural 1930 World Cup and multiple continental deciders.

The calendar sets quarter-finals between 8 and 17 September and semi-finals across 13–14 and 20–21 October, giving South America’s leading clubs a compressed but clearly defined run-in straight after the World Cup. For international readers, this means the continent’s premier club competition will immediately take over from the global tournament, with Brazilian and Argentine sides again expected to dominate the latter stages.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Who are Argentina likely to face if they reach the World Cup final?

Argentina are scheduled to play England in the second 2026 World Cup semi-final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off at 3pm ET. The winner of that match will face either France or Spain, who meet in the first semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington today at 2pm local time / 3pm ET.

For South American fans, this means a potential final against one of two recent European champions: France, winners in 1998 and 2018, or Spain, champions in 2010.

When does the Copa Libertadores resume after the World Cup?

The 2026 Copa Libertadores final stages begin shortly after the World Cup, with round-of-16 first legs scheduled between 11 and 13 August and second legs from 18 to 20 August. Quarter-finals are set for 8–17 September and semi-finals for 13–14 and 20–21 October, leading into the final on 28 November at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

Which Latin American clubs have key ties in the Libertadores last 16?

According to the draw held at CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, the round of 16 features several major Brazilian and Argentine clubs, including Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteño, Cruzeiro vs Flamengo, Fluminense vs Independiente Rivadavia and Rosario Central vs Corinthians. Other ties involve Estudiantes de La Plata vs Universidad Católica, Mirassol vs LDU Quito, Deportes Tolima vs Independiente del Valle and Platense vs Coquimbo Unido, setting up a pan-continental bracket across Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Ecuador.