July 15, 2026, 12:00 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing closer. After France versus Spain, the second semifinal is now set: England will face Argentina. Before Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and others take the field, the real experts had to step in first: the PETBOOK editorial animals. And this time, they surprise with a premiere.
Who will make it to the FIFA World Cup final: England or Argentina?
Admittedly, at 3 a.m., the PETBOOK editorial team was no longer on hand to follow the last matchup for the second semifinal. But as we know, Norway’s Erling Haaland and his national team had to pack their bags. England secured their ticket to the second semifinal against the Vikings with a 2-1 victory.
This marks only the fourth time England has reached the World Cup semifinals, and they are just one win away from their first final since 1966. Thanks to coach Thomas Tuchel, which is at least a success for Germany, even though our national team has long been eliminated.
Argentina showed pure nerve at 3 a.m. German time. After a red card on the Swiss side, the Swiss held on until extra time, before Julián Álvarez scored a stunning long-range goal in the 112th minute and Lautaro Martínez secured the 3-1 final score in the 120th minute. For soccer icon Lionel Messi, who has scored eight goals in the tournament so far, this could be the last World Cup chapter of his career.
What our editorial animals say
After the top duel between France and Spain, the second ticket for the final is now up: On Wednesday, July 15, England and Argentina will face off at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Two more heavyweights, a second final ticket–time for round two in the bowl.
Hector and Elvis: United for England–is the anti-oracle curse broken?
After Hector and Elvis unanimously chose Spain in the first semifinal, they were right for the first time in a long while. Has the duo finally shed their notorious “anti-oracle” curse? For the second semifinal, the two are once again heading in the same direction: Both Labrador Hector and Australian Shepherd Elvis made a beeline for the bowl with the English flag.
Whether the knot has truly been untied or the supposedly broken curse returns in the next game will be revealed on Wednesday evening.
Yumi joins in!
Usually, Pomeranian Yumi was known for her underdog picks during the World Cup and regularly went against the two males. This time, however, she makes an exception: As in the quarterfinals, she is once again betting on England and, for the first time, joins Hector and Elvis. Whether this brings luck to the “Three Lions” or the editorial team’s united front becomes a bad omen will be revealed on Wednesday evening.
Thus, the internal editorial score for the second semifinal is 3-0–this time for England. Whether Hector and Elvis reclaim their reputation as the anti-oracle or Yumi’s pick brings luck to the English will be seen on Wednesday evening, July 15, 2026, in Atlanta.