World Cup semifinals feature FIFA’s top four teams for first time
France, Argentina, Spain and England have reached the 2026 last four, a lineup Al Jazeera says is unmatched since FIFA rankings began in 1992.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
The 2026 World Cup semifinals have brought together France, Argentina, Spain and England, putting the top four teams in FIFA’s rankings into the last four. Al Jazeera reported that this is the first time that has happened since FIFA introduced its rankings in 1992.
The lineup also keeps alive the possibility of a repeat of the 2022 final between Argentina and France. Argentina won that match in Qatar, after France had entered the tournament as the defending champion from 2018, Al Jazeera noted.
Four contenders, four headline players
Al Jazeera reported that France enter the closing stages as the world’s top-ranked team and one of the main title contenders. The French attack is led by Kylian Mbappe, while Ousmane Dembele is described by Al Jazeera as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.
Argentina are ranked second and remain centered around Lionel Messi, who led the team to the 2022 title. Al Jazeera framed Messi’s role in this tournament as part of his case for being viewed as the greatest player in the sport’s history.
Spain, ranked third, have reached the semifinals with a strong defensive record, according to Al Jazeera. The team also features Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain win Euro 2024 and is returning from the calf injury that kept him out late in the club season.
England are fourth in the rankings among the semifinalists but are described by Al Jazeera as the second favourites behind France. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham lead the side, with Al Jazeera noting that some observers see Bellingham as a player who could rank among England’s best if he carries the team through the tournament.
How it compares with past semifinals
Al Jazeera compared the 2026 field with several previous World Cup semifinals. In 2018, France went on to beat Croatia in the final, after Croatia and England had both exceeded expectations by reaching the last four.
The 2014 semifinals featured Germany, Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands. Germany’s 7-1 win over Brazil was the defining result of that stage, while Argentina’s later matches against the Netherlands and Germany were more cautious, Al Jazeera reported.
The 1990 tournament in Italy had West Germany, Argentina, Italy and England in the semifinals, with Al Jazeera describing the football as conservative despite the presence of major names such as Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthaus, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker. West Germany beat Argentina in the final.
Al Jazeera also pointed to 1986, when Maradona’s Argentina were joined by West Germany, France and Belgium, and to 1974, when Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands introduced a wider audience to Total Football before losing the final to West Germany. The 1970 semifinals, led by Pele’s Brazil, remain another benchmark in the comparison.
A final judgment still depends on the matches
Al Jazeera’s assessment is that the 2026 semifinal field may be the strongest yet on paper because of the depth of elite players across all four teams. The report said the answer will depend on whether the football matches the names involved.
The tournament has also featured notable runs by DR Congo and Cape Verde, according to Al Jazeera, at a time when a 64-team World Cup has been discussed for 2030. For now, the focus has narrowed to four established powers and whether they can turn a rare semifinal lineup into a memorable finish.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.