The 2026 World Cup has arrived at its semifinal stage, and the matchups could hardly be more exciting for soccer fans around the world.
Thanks to a new seeding system introduced alongside the tournament’s expanded format, FIFA arranged the bracket so that the top teams in the world were placed in opposite corners during the knockout rounds. The result: both semifinal games feature elite-level competition.
Leading the way is a clash between France and Spain, two of the sport’s most celebrated national programs. The other semifinal pits England against Argentina — a matchup headlined by some of the biggest names in the game.
The restructured bracket format was specifically designed to prevent top contenders from eliminating each other too early, and by the semifinal stage, it has delivered exactly the high-stakes drama FIFA was hoping for.
