Dallas: The lineup for the 2026 World Cup semi-finals is complete, featuring four teams that have previously won the tournament: France, Spain, Argentina, and England. This ensures that the 23rd edition of the World Cup will be won by a former champion, as Argentina, the defending champions, enter the semi-finals with three World Cup titles, while France boasts two. Spain and England have each won the tournament once, setting the stage for a historic showdown.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, this year's semi-finals mark the first time that the top four teams in the FIFA rankings have all advanced to this stage: three European teams and one from South America. France secured their place in the semi-finals for the third consecutive time after defeating Morocco 2-0, with goals from Kylian Mbapp© and Ousmane Demb©l©. Meanwhile, Spain returned to the semi-finals for the first time since their 2010 South Africa victory, defeating Belgium 2-1 with a late goal by Mikel Merino, extending their unbeaten run to 36 matches.
The semi-final matches will showcase contrasting styles of play. France, known for quick transitions and individual brilliance, will face Spain, who prioritize possession and organized attacking play. This match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium in Texas, which will host its ninth match of the tournament.
The second semi-final, on Wednesday, July 15, will see Argentina and England clash at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia. This match carries a rich history of rivalry between the two prominent footballing nations. England reached this stage after a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, while Argentina advanced with a 3-1 extra-time win against Switzerland.
Should Argentina succeed in retaining the title, they will become only the third team in World Cup history to achieve this feat. The historical rivalry between Argentina and England dates back to their 1966 quarterfinal encounter and includes the infamous 1986 World Cup match, played four years after the Falklands War, where Diego Maradona scored both goals in a 2-1 victory for Argentina.
The World Cup records reflect the historical presence of the teams that qualified for the 2026 semi-finals. Germany still holds the record for the most appearances at this stage with 12 participations, while Brazil follows with eight semi-final appearances. France increased its tally to eight with its 2026 appearance, compared to seven for Italy. Argentina reached the semi-finals for the sixth time, while England and Spain have reached this stage four and two times, respectively.
With these four teams reaching the semi-finals, the 2026 edition brings together four of the most frequent participants in the advanced stages of the World Cup, continuing the historical presence of traditional powerhouses in the tournament.