​Rewriting my World Cup semifinal rankings: Why France, Spain, England, and Argentina will (and won’t) win the 2026 FIFA title, originally published by The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. With 48 teams entering the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only four remain as the field has been narrowed to the semifinals. After evaluating the 32 teams that reached the knockout stage and then assessing the quarterfinals, just four football powerhouses remain in contention for the coveted global title. Even the strongest squads have been pushed to the limit so far. England required extra time to beat a formidable Norway side led by Erling Haaland, while Spain needed an 88th-minute strike to edge Belgium and France scored twice in the second half to defeat Morocco. The Sporting News has ranked the four teams left with a claim to the 2026 title and has assigned each one a superlative, considering overall talent, performances to date, and their prospects of lifting the trophy by the end of the tournament. 2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets [INSERT UPDATED BRACKET IMAGE] MORE WORLD CUP NEWS: Printable World Cup bracket Updated Golden Boot tracker List of countries eliminated from World Cup Superlative: Legacy award FIFA Rank: #1 Group stage: Round of 16: W 3-2 vs. Egypt Quarterfinals: W 2-1 vs. Switzerland (a.e.t.) Coming into this tournament, Argentina carried notable gaps, but they managed to mask those deficiencies with extraordinary resolve and Lionel Messi’s magic. That resilience has helped them reach the semifinals, aided in part by a relatively forgiving bracket, yet it also raises important questions about their title ambitions. In midfield, they have looked diminished in all three games, unable to control the tempo the way they have in past campaigns. When they do establish a foothold, they have often left themselves exposed to dangerous counterattacks. While Messi remains an all-time great, this squad still possesses enough depth, talent, and star power to beat any opponent, and they could still become the first team since the 1960s to defend the World Cup title. However, watching three straight games where they have appeared visibly off their customary level is concerning for their prospects later in the tournament, even with a favorable draw. Argentina has built a reputation for being exceptionally difficult to beat, but in their current configuration, it is hard to envision them defeating top-tier teams given waning athleticism and physicality in midfield. MORE: Ranking Lionel Messi’s best World Cup goals | Messi’s career penalty kick record Why Argentina will win the World Cup They’ve been here before, and for six years they have been among the most challenging teams to defeat. That experience, for better SEO. minimum 500 words