Semi-finalists determined by new World Cup format
The World Cup 2026 semi-finals will feature the top four teams in Fifa‘s world rankings for the first time. Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3), and England (4) have all progressed to this stage. This outcome was influenced by a change implemented by Fifa for the 2026 tournament, which placed these top-ranked teams in separate quadrants of the draw to prevent them from meeting before the semi-finals.
For this arrangement to succeed, each of these teams needed to win their respective groups, which they accomplished. The draw ensured that Spain and Argentina could not face each other before the final, while England and France were positioned on opposite sides of the knockout bracket, setting them on a path to potentially meet either Spain or Argentina in the semi-finals if they advanced.
Fifa described this adjustment as a measure to ensure “competitive balance” by creating “two separate pathways to the semi-finals.” The semi-final fixtures are now set, with France playing Spain on Tuesday, and England facing Argentina on Wednesday.
This approach mirrors similar seeding strategies seen in tournaments like Wimbledon and the new Champions League format, where seeds are kept apart in pairs. Fifa rankings were first introduced in 1994, though they were not utilised for that year’s tournament. In previous World Cups since 1998, the top-ranked teams did not all consistently reach the semi-finals.
For instance, Belgium (2022), Germany (2018), Spain (2014), Italy (2010), and France (2002) were all ranked within the top four but did not advance beyond the group stage in their respective tournaments. The last instance of two of the world’s top four teams meeting before the semi-finals was in 2010, when the Netherlands defeated Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Fifa was transparent about this change to the draw process for the current World Cup. The governing body stated its intention to prevent early knockout round encounters between the four top-ranked countries, thereby aiming to preserve high-profile matches for later stages of the tournament. This became particularly relevant with the expanded 48-team World Cup format, which includes an extra knockout round, making early meetings between group winners more likely.
This summer’s last 16 saw matches such as United States against Belgium, England facing Mexico, and Switzerland meeting Colombia. Fifa felt it necessary to make this adjustment due to the expanded format for 2026, seeking to avoid losing a top-four team in an earlier round. A similar ranking system was used in the Club World Cup last year, where one of the four top seeds, Real Madrid, reached the semi-finals. This time, the outcome aligns with Fifa’s stated intentions.
England to face Argentina in semi-final clash
The semi-final match between Argentina and England, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta, will mark a new experience for Lionel Messi. Despite having made over 200 appearances and scoring 125 goals for Argentina, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has never played against England on the international stage.
Argentina secured their place in the semi-finals with a 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Messi did not score in that match, marking the first time in this tournament he failed to find the net. He currently leads the Golden Boot race alongside France’s Kylian Mbappe, having scored eight goals, and holds the record as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Pundit Micah Richards commented on the upcoming match, stating that England possesses the ability to outrun Argentina, but acknowledged Messi as a “little genius” around whom the team plays. Richards highlighted Messi’s unique playing style, noting his ability to find spaces and his exceptional technique and spatial awareness. He also drew a parallel between Messi’s aura and that of Jude Bellingham, describing Messi’s aura as “next level.”
Chris Sutton, speaking on Radio 5 Live, suggested that Thomas Tuchel and the England players might be looking forward to playing Argentina in their current form, implying that while it may not be a “great Argentina team,” they have a knack for finding a way to win. Former England striker Wayne Rooney observed that Messi, despite contributing little defensively, can decide games through moments of quality and astute decision-making, similar to Bellingham.
Rooney noted that Messi’s defensive contribution can be a “weakness” for Argentina, but his ability to make the right decisions in crucial moments is key. He emphasised that marking Messi requires intense concentration and effective communication among teammates to cover positions they might not typically occupy.
Historical rivalry and Messi’s international career
The match holds significant weight due to the fierce rivalry between England and Argentina in international football. South American football expert Tim Vickery told 5 Live that this semi-final is the match Argentina fans desired, as Messi could not end an international career spanning over 200 matches without playing against the team Argentina fans consider their biggest rival. Vickery mentioned that during the quarter-final, fans were chanting about England, indicating the intensity of the rivalry.
The history between the two nations includes memorable moments such as Diego Maradona‘s ‘Hand of God’ goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final and David Beckham‘s red card in 1998. This upcoming semi-final will be their first encounter in almost 21 years.
Since Messi’s Argentina debut at 18, the teams have met only once, less than three months after his first international appearance. Messi had earned his senior call-up in August 2005 after his performance in Argentina’s victory at the World Youth Championship earlier that year. He was not involved in the match against England in Geneva due to a suspension. This suspension followed a red card he received just 30 seconds into his international debut against Hungary in Budapest, where he reacted to a foul by swinging his arm towards a defender.
In that match without Messi, Argentina took the lead twice before Michael Owen scored two late goals, securing a 3-2 victory for Sven-Goran Eriksson‘s England side. Messi is Argentina’s all-time record appearance-maker and goalscorer, and his legacy has grown since captaining his country to World Cup glory in 2022.
His scoring record shows a preference for certain opponents. He has scored goals against Bolivia in matches, goals against Venezuela in matches, and goals against Ecuador in matches. He has also netted six goals against Uruguay and five goals against Brazil. Against European teams, he has scored three goals each against Croatia, Switzerland, and France. His three goals against France came from three matches, including a double in the 2022 final. Among nations he has faced more than once, only Qatar, whom he has played twice, has managed to prevent him from scoring.
Read Also
Source: bbc.co.uk
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
