ATLANTA — The 2026 World Cup has reached a blockbuster semifinal stage, with the world’s top four-ranked teams and four former champions left standing in a tournament loaded with history, rivalries and football’s biggest stars.
Defending champion Argentina, France, Spain and England will battle for a place in the final, ensuring one of the sport’s traditional powers will lift the trophy.
France meets Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday before England takes on Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.
It is the first time since the 1990 World Cup that all four semifinalists are previous champions. That tournament also featured England and Argentina, with Argentina eventually losing to West Germany in the final after winning the title four years earlier.
Should France and Argentina both advance, the final would be a rematch of the 2022 World Cup showpiece.
England and Argentina renew historic rivalry
The second semifinal revives one of football’s fiercest rivalries, shaped by decades of memorable World Cup encounters and the political backdrop of the 1982 Falklands conflict.
Among the most iconic meetings was Argentina’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory at the 1986 World Cup, when Diego Maradona scored both the infamous “Hand of God” goal and his stunning solo effort widely regarded as one of the greatest goals in football history.
The rivalry continued in 1998 when David Beckham was sent off in England’s penalty shootout defeat, before the former captain earned redemption by scoring the winner in England’s 1-0 group-stage victory at the 2002 World Cup.
The semifinal will also mark Lionel Messi’s first World Cup appearance against England.
France seeks revenge against Spain
France and Spain meet again in the knockout stage of a major tournament two years after Spain eliminated Les Bleus in the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals.
Spain has since extended its remarkable unbeaten competitive run, but France has emerged as arguably the tournament’s most complete team, combining a prolific attack with one of the favorites to win the title.
Golden Boot battle intensifies
The race for the Golden Boot remains wide open with several contenders still alive.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé lead the scoring charts with eight goals each. England teammates Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have six apiece, while France winger Ousmane Dembélé has five.
The semifinal stage also features another historic duel as Messi, with 21 career World Cup goals, leads Mbappé by one in the race to become the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Messi chases more history
At 39, Messi is attempting to guide Argentina to consecutive World Cup titles, something no nation has achieved since Brazil won back-to-back crowns in 1958 and 1962.
Victory would also give Argentina captain Messi a second World Cup winners’ medal, further strengthening his claim as the greatest player in football history and matching one of the sport’s rarest achievements.
Source: Saudi Gazette