The 20XX FIFA World Cup has delivered a semifinal lineup unmatched in modern soccer history, bringing together the world’s top four ranked nations, all previous tournament champions, and a cast of global soccer royalty that has fans across the globe buzzing with anticipation. Only two matches now stand between Argentina, Spain, France, and England from lifting the sport’s most coveted trophy, and analysts agree that every matchup is too close to call. This year’s final four marks the first time since 1990 that every remaining contender has previously claimed the World Cup title, echoing a historic parallel that adds even more drama to the upcoming fixtures. France will face off against Spain in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, a fixture that falls on France’s national Bastille Day holiday, before England and Argentina meet in Atlanta on Wednesday to cap off the semifinal round.
The England-Argentina matchup is far more than a game for a spot in the World Cup final: it reignites one of the bitterest and most storied rivalries in international soccer, with tensions that have spilled beyond the pitch for decades, rooted in the 1982 Falklands Islands conflict between the two nations. The rivalry’s history on soccer’s biggest stage is littered with iconic controversial moments that are still debated by fans today. In the 1966 World Cup quarterfinals, Argentina captain Antonio Rattin — whose passing was announced just days before this year’s semifinal — was sent off in a fractious match that ended in a 1-0 English win; after the final whistle, then-England manager Alf Ramsey refused to let his players swap shirts with their Argentine opponents in a show of disrespect. Two decades later at the 1986 World Cup, Diego Maradona’s infamous illegal “Hand of God” goal secured a 2-1 quarterfinal win for Argentina, who went on to win the tournament that year. In 1998, David Beckham was sent off after kicking Argentina’s Diego Simeone, a moment that sparked widespread media fury in England, and Argentina won the match on penalties. Beckham earned his revenge four years later, scoring a match-winning penalty to knock Argentina out of the tournament in the group stage. Adding a new layer of history to this long-running rivalry: this will be Lionel Messi’s first ever competitive match against England at any World Cup.
Widely described as soccer’s greatest of all time (GOAT), the 39-year-old Messi is widely expected to be playing in his final World Cup, and his performances this tournament have only cemented his legacy. If he guides Argentina to a second consecutive title, he will surpass Maradona by becoming the second Argentine men’s player to win two World Cups, and Argentina will become the first national men’s team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil’s legendary squads of 1958 and 1962 led by Pelé. As the defending 2022 World Cup champions, Argentina already enters this semifinal with a historic parallel to the 1990 tournament, when Argentina was also the defending champion and reached the final before falling to West Germany.
In the other semifinal, France will chase quick revenge against a Spanish side that knocked them out of the 2024 European Championship in a 2-1 semifinal win two years ago. That 2024 match saw 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal score for Spain, who went on to lift the Euro title after beating England in the final. For France, that match was hampered by a broken nose injury that blunted star striker Kylian Mbappé’s impact, while young emerging talents Michael Olise and Désiré Doué had not yet broken into the senior national squad. Today, France enters this World Cup semifinal as the tournament’s most impressive team, boasting a deep, dynamic attacking roster that has overwhelmed opponents throughout the knockout stage.
In contrast, Spain entered this World Cup already dealing with major injury setbacks, losing both Yamal and winger Nico Williams before the tournament began. The Spanish side has nonetheless fought its way to the semifinals, clinching narrow late wins against Portugal and Belgium, both off goals from substitute Mikel Oyarzabal. The two nations have a long tournament history: France defeated Spain to claim the Euro 1984 title.
Beyond the race for the World Cup trophy, the tournament also features a thrilling tight race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the tournament’s top goalscorer. Five of the world’s six top goalscorers remain in the competition, with Erling Haaland the only eliminated top contender after Norway fell to England in the quarterfinals. Mbappé and Messi currently share the lead with eight goals each, followed by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane with six, Ousmane Dembélé with five, and Oyarzabal with four, putting multiple players within striking distance of the award. The two superstars are also competing for the title of the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer: Messi has 21 career World Cup goals, just one ahead of Mbappé’s 20.
If both France and Argentina advance to the final, the 2026 World Cup will host a rematch of the iconic 2022 final, adding another historic chapter to what is already the most anticipated final four in recent World Cup memory.