​The world is set to witness a World Cup final four that it deserves. The four semifinalists sit in the top four spots of the latest FIFA rankings: 1. France (6-0-0), 2. Argentina (6-0-0), 3. Spain (5-0-1), and 4. England (5-0-1). Together, they have combined for an astonishing 22 wins, no losses, and two draws. The only blemishes came from Spain’s goalless draw with a rising side, Cape Verde, in Group H, and England’s 0-0 stalemate with Ghana in Group L.
This sets up two spectacular semifinals that will decide the World Cup finalists at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19. All four semifinalists have previously lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy. Argentina leads the way with three titles (1978, 1986, 2018), followed by France with two (1998, 2018), and Spain (2010) and England (1966) with one each.
On Tuesday, France will face Spain in Arlington, Texas, while England will take on Argentina in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. The writer here has a 21-7 record predicting knockout-round results. Now, let’s look at both semifinals (both games will be shown on FOX and Telemundo) with the latest FIFA rankings through Sunday morning.
France’s forward Michael Olise, wearing number 11, was seen during the World Cup round of 32 match between France and Sweden at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 30, 2026. (Photo by Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images)
On paper, this promises to be a juicier matchup than most. It features the 2024 European champions, Spain, who have rattled off a 36-game unbeaten run, against a French side many pundits expect to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. The last time Spain tasted defeat in a competitive match was a 2-0 loss to Scotland during 2024 qualifying in March 2023. France is chasing its third World Cup title, having previously won in 1998 and 2018, while Spain secured the 2010 crown.
This meeting is a rematch of two semifinals from recent history. In the 2024 Euro final in Germany, Spain triumphed 2-1. Randal Kolo Muani gave France a ninth-minute lead, but the Spanish response came through goals by Lamine Yamal (who turns 19 on Monday) and Dani Olmo, coming just four minutes apart. In the 2025 Euro Nations League semifinals, Spain built a 4-1 second-half lead before withstanding a late French rally in a wild 5-4 victory in Stuttgart, Germany. Portugal went on to win the Nations League that year, triumphing over the Iberian Derby on penalties; however, FIFA rules recorded that match as a draw for both teams.
In Atlanta, Georgia, on June 21, Spain’s Lamine Yamal celebrated scoring his team’s first goal in their World Cup 2026 Group H clash against Saudi Arabia at the Atlanta Stadium. The Spaniards, coached by Luis de la Fuente, still face questions about whether they can maintain the form that has carried them to this stage, as they aim to translate their run of results into a deep tournament push.