With apologies to World Cup 2026 co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, this is the perfect semifinal field. France and Spain on one side. England and Argentina on the other.
Is there anything better?
Advertisement
Not according to FIFA’s world rankings. Yeah, they’re a very imperfect metric. But this is the first World Cup ever with the semifinal spots occupied by the top four teams entering the World Cup. France is at No. 1, Argentina is at No. 2, Spain is third and England is fourth.
A semifinal field with the USMNT or Mexico wouldn’t have been that farfetched given their home-field advantage. But it wouldn’t have been nearly as strong.
And each of the four global powers has been buoyed by its superstars. You don’t need me to tell you about Lionel Messi’s continued greatness. There are hardly any superlatives left to describe the 38-year-old’s pursuit of the Golden Boot and a second straight World Cup title.
If it wasn’t for Messi, 27-year-old France star Kylian Mbappé would already be the World Cup’s all-time goals leader. Messi’s eight goals in this World Cup give him 21 for his career. Mbappé already has 20 in 20 appearances. And he’s got the slight edge over Messi for the Golden Boot thanks to two more assists.
Advertisement
England’s Harry Kane is tied for fifth in all-time World Cup goals with 14 and became his country’s all-time leading World Cup scorer earlier in the tournament. Kane has six goals so far this tournament … but he got caught for fourth in the Golden Boot race by his own teammate.
Jude Bellingham scored both of England’s goals in its 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday afternoon. Bellingham has scored four times over England’s last two wins as he’s become a force in creating his own space in the penalty area and also poaching rebounds.
Bellingham, 23, started all five of England’s matches at the 2022 World Cup as a 19-year-old. After a rollercoaster season at Real Madrid, some England fans didn’t even know if he’d be a surefire starter in this tournament. Instead, he’s showing why he’s one of the best attacking midfielders on the planet.
This tournament’s teenage sensation is Spain’s Lamine Yamal. Even though Yamal has scored just once this tournament and hasn’t lodged an assist, it’s indisputable that Spain is a more dangerous team with him on the field based on how much attention opposing defenses pay to him.
Advertisement
Spain, the 2024 European champions, are in the semifinals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010. And before beating Austria in the Round of 32, Spain hadn’t even won a knockout-round game since it lifted the trophy.
Now, it’s just ruthlessly effective. Even if the soccer isn’t the prettiest to watch at times. The goal Belgium scored on Friday in Spain’s 2-1 quarterfinal win was the first that Spain had given up all tournament. By dominating possession and zig-zagging passes, Spain’s offense can also serve as its best defense.
Can that work against a team as loaded up front as France? France won the 2018 World Cup and made it to the final four years ago on the back of soccer that was reliably defensive with bursts of brilliance from Mbappé. Now, France’s midfield isn’t what it was one or two World Cups ago, but it might have the best group of attackers in modern international history.
Michael Olise broke out at Bayern Munich in 2025-26 and now plays centrally behind Mbappé. 2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé occupies one wing, while the other has been filled by either Bradley Barcola or Désiré Doué.
Advertisement
Through six games, France has scored 16 goals.
In Wednesday’s semifinal, England is looking to break its infamous 60-year World Cup drought against the team looking to be the first since Brazil in 1958 and 1966 to win back-to-back World Cups.
Neither team may be all that fussed about giving up the opening goal, either. England’s win over Norway was its second comeback win of the knockout rounds, while Argentina’s remarkable comeback against Egypt less than a week ago still feels surreal.
That win over Egypt was Argentina’s only game of the knockout rounds not to go to extra time, while England also played 30 more minutes of soccer on Wednesday. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if the game gets off to a cagey start as a result.
Advertisement
But with players like Bellingham, Kane, Messi and Julián Álvarez — whose golazo to beat Switzerland came out of nowhere — there will be plenty of opportunities for individual brilliance.
Any of the four combinations of winners on Tuesday and Wednesday will make for an incredibly compelling final and a deserved champion. You can’t ask for anything more than that in a tournament. Especially as one as big as the World Cup.
