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With the semifinals already determined, the is heading into its final stretch with four teams that together have a total of eight world titles: France, Spain, Argentina, and England will compete for the right to play in the grand final on July 19 at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.
The semifinal match pits France against Spain this Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Argentina against England on Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. From these two matches, the two teams that will compete for the cup will emerge, and the tournament has only four possible combinations, each with its own historical significance.
France vs. England would be the most unprecedented matchup: they have never faced each other in a World Cup final. The French would be pursuing their third title and their third consecutive final, while the English have not won a major championship since 1966. The match would also bring together club teammates: Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, both from Real Madrid, would meet on the biggest stage in football.
The second possibility is the rematch of Qatar 2022 between Argentina and France, considered the best final in the history of the tournament. That match ended 3-3 after extra time, with the Albiceleste prevailing 4-2 in penalties, while Mbappé scored a hat-trick on the losing side. Four years later, both would come with an additional motivation: Lionel Messi and Mbappé are tied with eight goals in the race for the Golden Boot, although the Frenchman currently has the advantage in assists (three to two).
If Spain eliminates France and England defeats Argentina, the World Cup will present a rematch of the Euro 2024 final, which Spain won 2-1 with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal. La Roja would seek to replicate that success on the biggest stage, while the English would try to mend the wound of two consecutive lost European finals.
The fourth scenario, Spain vs. Argentina, would also be unprecedented in a World Cup final. The champions of Europe against the champions of the world, with the generational clash between Lamine Yamal and Messi as a backdrop. Spain would aim for its second star; Argentina would seek to defend the title and become the first team to achieve this since Brazil in 1962.
The semifinal between Argentina and England adds a dimension that goes beyond football. The rivalry between the two teams is marked by the Falklands War and the legendary match of Mexico 1986, where Diego Maradona scored "The Hand of God" and "The Goal of the Century." Messi has never faced England in a World Cup, making Wednesday's clash an unprecedented chapter even for him.
The Argentine captain himself ignited the anticipation with a challenging message before the semifinal: "It will be special to play against England, the team arrives in the best condition," he stated, before adding: "A lot of nonsense was talked about during the week, and we want to dedicate this to those fools."
Whatever the outcome of the semifinals, the 2026 World Cup guarantees something that hasn't happened since 1934: all four semifinalists are previous world champions, ensuring a final between two teams that already know what it means to lift the trophy.
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