JAKARTA - The teams that qualified for the 2026 World Cup semi-finals will be remembered for all time. The four previous champions and the top four teams in the world are in the top four, the first since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1992.
Argentina, Spain, France, and England enter the tournament as the top four teams in the FIFA rankings and need only two more wins to be crowned champions. All four even have representatives on the scoring list.
France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, early morning WIB, and England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Thursday, July 16, 2026, early morning WIB.
Since 1990, four World Cup semifinal teams have never been entirely made up of previous champions. England and Argentina were involved then even though they did not face each other.
Back then, as now, Argentina were the defending champions - having beaten West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico - and then lost to West Germany in the 1990 final.
This year could also be a repeat final from 2022 if France and Argentina both qualify from the semifinals.
To reach a second successive final, Argentina must beat England in a match that continues a fierce rivalry that extends beyond the football pitch, with tensions also linked to the 1982 conflict over the Falkland Islands.
On the field, there have been many hot moments between the two teams over the years on the World Cup stage. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, who died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, was sent off in a tense quarterfinal match against England - who eventually became champions - in 1966.
England manager Alf Ramsey tried to stop his players from exchanging shirts with their opponents after the 1-0 win.
Two decades later, in 1986, Diego Maradona's famous "Hand of God" goal helped Argentina to a 2-1 victory against England in the quarter-finals on the way to lifting the trophy.
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Then, David Beckham was sent off in 1998 for kicking Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone, who, predictably, was criticised by the British media for his reaction to what appeared to be a light contact. Argentina won the game in the last 16 via a penalty shootout.
Beckham got his revenge four years later by scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win that contributed to Argentina's elimination in the group stage.
On the other side of the draw, France and Spain meet again in the semi-finals of a major tournament, just two years after facing each other at Euro 2024.
Spain are now 2-1 winners with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring and then lifting the Euro trophy by beating England in the final.
Kylian Mbappe's strength declined at Euro 2024 after suffering a broken nose, while now-rising stars such as Michael Olise and Desire Doue have yet to break into the first team.
Two years later, France are widely regarded as the most impressive team at the 2026 World Cup with a dazzling array of attacking talent heading into the semi-final on France's Bastille Day.
On the other hand, Spain has to deal with injuries to Yamal and Nico Williams. Before stepping into the top four, La Roja relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to beat Portugal and Belgium.
The two countries have met several times at the World Cup or Euro. France once defeated Spain in the Euro 1984 final.
Meanwhile, for the tournament's top scorer, it has been a thrilling competition at the World Cup as many of the deadliest strikers have been in peak form.
Erling Haaland may have been knocked out of contention after Norway's defeat to England at the weekend, but five of the top six scorers are still in the running and others could still force their way into the running for the Golden Boot.
Mbappe and Lionel Messi lead with eight goals each. Haaland scored seven goals. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane each scored six goals, while Ousmane Dembele scored five goals.
Don't forget the name Mikel Oyarzabal who has scored four goals so he can still compete if Spain beats France in the semifinals.
There is also competition for the all-time top scorer in the World Cup overall with Messi scoring 21 goals and Mbappe 20 goals.
Messi's appearance at the 2026 edition is likely to be his last World Cup. His age of 39 only strengthens the argument. This will be Messi's first match against England.
If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he will surpass Maradona by winning two World Cups for his country and can lead the team to become champions twice in a row for the first time since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Football legend Pele was part of that Brazilian team and won his third World Cup in 1970.
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