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The semi-final matchups for the 2026 World Cup are now set, determining which two teams will battle for the title in Sunday's final. While there are no major surprises among these four contenders, this World Cup is offering something unprecedented: all four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA standings have reached this stage. Spain and France, who face off on Tuesday, are ranked second and third respectively. The following day, reigning world champions Argentina, currently number one, will defend their trophy against England, who round out the top four. This means, on paper at least, these are the strongest possible semi-finals.
This scenario was pre-determined by the tournament's structure, which ensured the top four ranked teams would not meet before the semi-finals, provided they won their respective groups. And so it played out. Interestingly, Argentina ascended to the top of the FIFA rankings just before the World Cup began. Historically, no team starting a World Cup as the top-ranked nation has ever gone on to win the title. It remains to be seen if Messi and his squad can break this trend.
All four semi-finalists are former world champions, a feat that has occurred for the third time in World Cup history, with previous instances in 1970 and 1990.
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