Top Four FIFA-Ranked Nations All Reach 2026 World Cup Semifinals in Historic First

For the first time in the 33-year history of FIFA’s world rankings, the top four ranked nations entering a World Cup have all reached the semifinals. Argentina (No. 1), Spain (No. 2), France (No. 3), and England (No. 4) each lived up to their billing at the 2026 tournament, setting up a semifinal round with no historical precedent.

France and Spain meet on July 14 in Arlington, Texas, while England and Argentina face off the following day in Atlanta. The two winners will contest the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The result is also the chalkiest World Cup final four since the modern era of the tournament began. Spain, France, England, and Argentina were four of the five pre-tournament betting favourites, with only Portugal — also among the top five — failing to advance to the last four. It marks the first World Cup since 1994 in which all four semifinalists were priced below +1000 before a ball was kicked.

Argentina arrive at the last four in the form of a team rewriting the record books. They have won 13 consecutive matches and are unbeaten in 12 straight World Cup games, both team records. They are also the only side to score at least two goals in every match at this tournament, extending their own record of netting multiple goals in 12 consecutive World Cup fixtures. A win in the final would make them only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups, a feat last achieved 64 years ago when Brazil triumphed in 1958 and 1962.

At the centre of Argentina’s campaign is Lionel Messi, who has now scored 21 World Cup goals and registered 10 assists — both all-time tournament records. His 32 appearances and 21 victories at World Cups are also unmatched in the competition’s history, and he has scored against 15 different opponents across his World Cup career, more than any other player.

Spain, France, and England have each advanced as expected, reinforcing a semifinal field that stands apart from every previous edition of the tournament. In 2022, Croatia and Morocco — ranked outside the top five favourites — gatecrashed the last four. In 2018, only France among the pre-tournament top four made it through. The 2026 edition has so far defied that pattern entirely.