For the first time in the history of the World Cup, all four of the top-ranked teams have qualified for the semifinals. You would think that it would have happened at least once before. After all, the top teams used to seemingly have a monopoly on the tournament.
What makes it particularly strange this time around is that it came as the World Cup saw the most dramatic increase in both the number of teams and game in the tournament. There were more teams, and also more elimination round games. In the most recent World Cup tournaments, the eventual champion would have to win four elimination round games. Not, the eventual winner will have to win five games to hoist the trophy.
That means that all four teams remaining have won three elimination round games.
The first semifinal will be played later today at 3 PM EST, between France vs. Spain in Dallas, Texas.
Then the next semifinal will feature a rather classic World Cup rivalry when England takes on the defending champions Argentina.
The World Cup Has Delivered a Final Four for the Ages by Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, July 12, 2026:
With France vs. Spain and England vs. Argentina, the tournament has boiled down to the top four teams in the world for the first time in its modern history
https://www.wsj.com/sports/soccer/world-cup-france-spain-england-argentina-65dae17e?mod=e2fb&fbclid=IwY2xjawTC0pdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeIJlBYo0AeVodfhRo7INySajJZdGUZspeHCOx2k6UhaGrhCU6Xeu8y3Dtp3E_aem_wkgwzmsQXgZ7u6cJ5Mna2Q
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