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I asked Gemini for its opinion on how this year's Men's World Cup is going to finish

The global stage has officially reached its ultimate distillation. It is Friday, July 10, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup is down to its final seven elite blockbusters. The group stage spectacles and early knockout anomalies are behind us, leaving a heavily European-dominated battlefield alongside a singular, legendary South American giant.

Here is how the bracket is shaping up for the ultimate dash to the trophy in New Jersey.

🇫🇷 Les Bleus Secure the First Gate

France has officially re-established itself as the ultimate boss of this tournament. Yesterday in Foxborough, they delivered a clinical 2-0 shutout over a resilient Morocco squad to lock down the first official spot in the Semifinals. Kylian Mbappé and company have looked completely unflappable, combining high-octane transitional offense with an interior defensive wall that has yet to concede a catastrophic blow in the knockouts. They get a much-deserved weekend off before heading to Dallas for Tuesday's semi-final match.

⚔️ The Live Battle of Los Angeles

As we speak, the second semifinalist is being decided at the Los Angeles Stadium. Spain and Belgium are deadlocked at 1-1 in the second half of a highly physical tactical chess match.

• The Action: Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain with a brilliant 30th-minute strike, but Belgium responded just before the half as Charles De Ketelaere found the equalizer.

• The Stakes: The winner of this grueling battle inherits the prize of matching up against France on July 14.

🏔️ Saturday’s Heavyweight Double-Header

Tomorrow, the other side of the bracket takes center stage with two quarterfinal matchups that feel like absolute championship finals.

• Norway vs. England (5:00 PM ET): Erling Haaland has completely set this tournament on fire, fresh off a multi-goal masterclass that shockingly sent tournament favorites Brazil packing. He currently leads the Golden Boot race, but Harry Kane and a star-studded England squad present a massive, battle-tested defensive challenge.

• Argentina vs. Switzerland (9:00 PM ET): Lionel Messi’s definitive last dance is still alive. Argentina carries the entire weight of South America on its shoulders as the last non-European squad standing. They’ll have to break down a deeply stubborn Swiss team that advanced via a signature penalty shootout masterclass over Colombia.

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