The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its penultimate stage, with only four teams remaining in the biggest international football tournament of all time. We have ranked the final four teams ahead of the penultimate round of matches. Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree!
England will take on old rivals Argentina after coming from behind to beat Norway in the quarter-finals, while La Albiceleste defeated Switzerland after extra-time. The Three Lions won the most recent World Cup meeting between the two nations in 2002, though Argentina has won the last two knockout encounters. A potentially good omen for Thomas Tuchel’s men can perhaps be found in the fact England did beat the South Americans on their way to winning the tournament in 1966, 60 long years ago. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a talented England team struggle through matches against weaker opposition in a major tournament, but create enough moments and defend well enough to make a deep run. This has been more or less the story of the Three Lions since reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018. Thomas Tuchel has repeated that feat with the current side and will be hoping to go one step further this week. Harry Kane says England can still reach another level.
With Jude Bellingham, anything is possible. The Real Madrid star has bailed the team several times already when they needed him most; he is almost as important to England as Lionel Messi is to Argentina. One of the most impressive things about this squad is the depth. Norway were the better side for much of Saturday’s quarter-final and probably should have won it in normal time. But Tuchel was able to unload his bench and turn the tide in England’s favour. Bukayo Saka was excellent down the right after coming on, Djed Spence locked down the left side of defence, and Dan Burn was a one-man cross repellant. Tuchel admits England were lucky to reach the semi-final after beating Norway.
Argentina’s run to the last four has been more interesting than it ought to have been. They were handed the softest schedule of any team, facing Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland, but were made to sweat in each game. The reigning champions’ lack of pace and width has been badly exposed, while Messi looks fatigued after playing two periods of extra time. They have been hugely reliant on the Inter Miami star, although others did step up against the Swiss. It is difficult to envisage Argentina being anything other than physically dominated by England on Wednesday.
In the other semi-final, favourites France will face Spain in a repeat of the Euro 2024 semi-final from two years ago. Les Bleus will be out to exact revenge after losing that game in Germany. Like Spain, France have not played as imagined. For 14 years, Didier Deschamps set up his team to play risk-free football, but this year, in his final tournament as manager, the leash has been taken off. Due to Aurelien Tchouameni’s injury, Deschamps has opted for four attackers, resulting in sumptuous football. Kylian Mbappe is surrounded by Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola. Moving Olise centrally has been a masterstroke; the Bayern Munich man has been their top performer. Any side looking to stop France must nullify him.
Before the tournament, Spain were the pick to win, having won Euro 2024. However, La Roja have not shown the same flair, opting for a conservative approach due to the fitness of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Yamal suffered a hamstring injury and has not returned to his best, while Williams has barely played since sustaining a muscular injury against Uruguay. Spain have managed without him, conceding just one goal in six matches. There was relief for fans to see Williams come off the bench for the final 10 minutes against Belgium. He remains a game changer. As we look at these final four, it is worth remembering five of the best players to never win the World Cup.
