2026 World Cup: Best bets for France-Spain and England-Argentina semifinal games

There's some exciting soccer left to play and that means plenty of opportunities still remain to make some wagers on the action.

With so many potential bets that can be made over these next two games, it might be a bit overwhelming to know where to begin. Fear not! Victoria Matiash and Liz Loza hvave looked over the options and landed on their favorites as the teams battle it out to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.

*Odds as of time of publication. For the most updated odds, visit DK Sports

Spain vs. France

Player shots, Ousmane Dembélé, 3+ (+100)

Kylian Mbappé's record-setting play has dominated tournament headlines. He leads the French team with 30 total shots taken, 20 shots on target, and eight goals successfully achieved. Close behind him, however, is the seemingly ambidextrous Dembélé, who has averaged more than three shots per game, recording 16 in total throughout the 2026 World Cup. Facing a staunch Spanish defense and in what's projected to be a tight match, Les Bleus figure to stay on the attack with Dembélé remaining a primary offensive focus. -- Loza

UNDER 1.5 total goals, 90 minutes (+275)

Even though this epic semifinal is being billed as a clash of footballing heavyweights in Kylian Mbappé versus Lamine Yamal (and others), it also pits the two staunchest defenses against one another. Guided by midfielder Rodri, Spain has conceded just one goal this entire tournament. Arguably the second-strongest unit defensively, France has surrendered all of two.

While most fans would like to see the stars put on a scoring show and a 2-1 final is the most popular prediction from ESPN's expert panel, a 1-0 result after 90 minutes (or even nil-nil) hardly feels unreasonable considering how well both sides are defending. For the record, UNDER 2.5 total goals is currently offering -105. -- Matiash

Total corners, OVER 10.5 (+140)

Spain leads the remaining contenders in corner kicks with a total of 44 taken. This makes sense given Luis de la Fuente's possession-heavy approach. France is not too far behind with 41 total corners taken across six matches. Both teams registered exactly five corners in their quarterfinal matchups. Additionally, the last time these two teams faced each other (a little over a year ago during the UEFA Nations League finals in Germany) 10 total corners were recorded (six for France, four for Spain). Given the stakes, Spain's defense, and France's attack? A total of 11 corners is a reasonable outcome to anticipate. -- Loza

Argentina vs. England

Total team fouls committed, Argentina 14+ (+150)

Two exhausted powerhouses with decades of bad blood? This matchup figures to be equal parts ill-tempered and physical, likely leading to an abundance of fouls committed. While England's cards have increased, the Three Lions' infractions count has decreased since entering the knockout rounds as the squad has managed fewer than 10 fouls in back-to-back efforts. Meanwhile Argentina's trademark "garra" has continued at a consistent clip with La Albiceleste registering exactly 14 fouls committed in three consecutive outings. With pressure and accusations of favoritism mounting, Argentina's approach doesn't figure to change. -- Loza

Lionel Messi, anytime goalscorer (+135)

Defensively, England is not Spain or France. If Thomas Tuchel's side performs as shoddily as it did for too much of their quarterfinal against Norway, Argentina is going to find the net. So, if you're buying that hypothesis, why not side with the nation's most dynamic scoring threat? Some are arguing that Argentina and their superstar are running out of steam. Others suggest No. 10 doesn't have it in him to fade out quietly. After racking up eight goals over his first five matches, Messi failed to score against Switzerland. Running neck-and-neck with Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot, expect the 39-year-old to get back on track against England -- win or lose. -- Matiash

Assists, Anthony Gordon 1+ (+500)

Gordon has, quite fittingly, outpaced Marcus Rashford, establishing himself as England's top-option on the left wing. The 25-year-old effectively broke out during the Round of 32, logging two assists against Congo DR and becoming the first player in World Cup history to do so as a substitute in a knockout match. Gordon is now tied with Bukayo Saka for the most team assists (3), having successfully set up Jude Bellingham versus Norway. Gordon's facilitating skills should "flash" again when facing an Argentinian defense that has allowed at least one assist per match since entering the knockout stage of the tournament. -- Loza