The best group of World Cup semifinalists is set.
The top four teams in FIFA’s world rankings make up the last four teams standing at the 2026 World Cup. We’re poised for what could be an epic set of semifinals with France vs. Spain on Tuesday and England vs. Argentina on Wednesday. Here’s what we’ve learned about each of the four best teams in the world through their first six games of the tournament.
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Nothing fazes this team
The vast experience of Argentina’s squad has shown to be an incredible asset. Yes, this team isn’t perfect. It could use more speed on the wings and it gives up leads far too often. But there’s hardly any team more composed in the late stages of a tense game.
That’s an incredible asset, especially given the pressure on this squad in what’s assuredly Lionel Messi‘s final World Cup. Argentina has been playing with fire in its extra-time win over Cape Verde, miraculous comeback against Egypt and extra-time win over a shorthanded Switzerland on Saturday night. But on all three occasions, someone stepped up to produce a magical moment.
Messi played a key role in the first two games and was again the team’s epicenter against the Swiss. But as he and his teammates were not able to unlock the Switzerland defense, it was a howitzer from Julián Álvarez that won the game.
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Make no mistake, England and then the winner (or loser) of France vs. Spain are far tougher and more talented opponents than any other team Argentina has faced this tournament. Argentina may not be able to rely on late moments of individual brilliance to get the win. But given what we’ve seen so far this tournament — and the players on Argentina’s squad — we absolutely would not bet against the magic continuing.
England
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The Three Lions can beat anyone if Jude Bellingham is scoring goals
It’s easy to see how manager Thomas Tuchel’s attack was built with Harry Kane‘s playing style in mind. Kane loves to drop deep from his No. 9 position to get the ball and set up play. As Kane does that, England’s wingers have been tasked with getting forward. It’s why Tuchel has been aggressive in rotating Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze all tournament. He wants fresh legs out wide.
The combination of Kane and sprightly wingers also opens up the middle of the field for Jude Bellingham to make runs towards goal. And Bellingham has shown why he’s so dangerous in each of England’s last two matches.
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Bellingham scored twice against Mexico and added two more against Norway to put England into the semifinals. No other player has scored a goal in open play since Kane’s game-winner against DR Congo in the Round of 32.
Both Bellingham and Kane now have six goals through six games. Among players whose teams are still alive in the tournament, only Messi and Kylian Mbappé have more.
If there is a flaw in England’s success so far, it’s that no one else is scoring. Marcus Rashford’s goal against Croatia in the group stage is the only Three Lions goal that has been scored by a player who isn’t Kane or Bellingham. If both players are shut down against Argentina or in the final, that could be a huge problem. But they also haven’t been stopped yet.
France
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Didier Deschamps’ uncanny adaptability in his final World Cup
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The France coach entered his fourth and final World Cup in charge of his home country’s team with a squad far different than he’d had in previous years. After reaching each of the last two World Cup finals with a dominant midfield, the center of the park was France’s biggest question entering the 2026 tournament.
And so far, the midfield hasn’t mattered.
France has scored 16 goals through six games so far in the 2026 World Cup thanks to an attack that features Mbappé, Ousmane Dembéle and Michael Olise. The three are the most fearsome trio remaining in the World Cup; Mbappé and Dembéle have 13 of those goals and Olise has a team-leading five assists.
In 2014, France scored nine goals on the way to the quarterfinals. In 2018, when the country won its second World Cup, it scored 12 goals in seven games. Four years ago, France had 13 goals in six games heading into the final and then Mbappé’s hat trick sent the game to extra time before Argentina won it in penalties.
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Olivier Giroud was an underrated national team striker. But it’s not disrespectful to him to note that Mbappé hasn’t played with attacking teammates as good as these at a World Cup. Deschamps realizes that, and he’s been willing to let his team play on the front foot far more often.
Spain
If Spain needs a goal, manager Luis de la Fuente can just throw on Mikel Merino to get the job done.
That sounds ridiculous. But it’s also proven true during the knockout rounds. Merino hasn’t entered before the 85th minute in each of Spain’s last two games. And yet he’s scored both of its winners.
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In a scoreless tie against Portugal, Merino entered in the 85th minute. Six minutes later, he was the one to finally find the back of the net off an assist from Ferran Torres. With Spain’s quarterfinal game tied 1-1 against Belgium, Merino came on in the 86th minute. Less than two minutes later, he had given Spain a 2-1 lead.
Merino, 30, made six starts and scored six goals during Spain’s World Cup qualifiers, but it’s clear that he’s best-served to begin games on the bench during this tournament. Especially as Spain has gotten a bit stagnant in attack at times.
No one can doubt the Euro 2024 champs’ excellence; but of the 11 goals Spain has scored during the World Cup, seven have come against Saudi Arabia and Austria. If Spain quickly unlocks the opposing defense, the goal floodgates open. If it doesn’t, it can make for an excruciating game — and one that necessitates Merino’s presence.
