The latest
Spain, Argentina, France and England have reached the 2026 World Cup semifinals, marking the first time since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1992 that the top four teams have all made the final four.
Details
• How it worked: FIFA placed the four highest-ranked teams in separate quarters of the knockout bracket, protecting them from one another before the semifinals.
• The condition: The protection applied only if each team won its group. A second-place finish would have removed that advantage.
• Their routes: Argentina beat Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland; Spain eliminated Austria, Portugal and Belgium; France overcame Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco; England defeated DR Congo, Mexico and Norway.
• The semifinals: France will face Spain, while England will meet Argentina in two matches featuring FIFA’s four highest-ranked teams.
• Why FIFA changed it: Expanding the tournament to 48 teams created an extra knockout round and increased the chance of group winners meeting earlier.
Background
No previous men’s World Cup had featured all four top-ranked teams in the semifinals. At several tournaments, two reached the last four, but never three or four.
Between the lines
FIFA described the system as a way to preserve competitive balance. It also increased the likelihood that the strongest and most marketable teams would survive into the tournament’s final week.
What to watch
The semifinals will determine whether the new format also produces a final between the world’s two highest-ranked teams: Spain and Argentina.
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