The 2026 FIFA World Cup has delivered a historic first. For the first time since the ranking system began in 1992, the four top-seeded teams have all reached the semifinals.
The tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, used a bracket format designed to keep the top seeds apart until the final four. That structure set the stage, but the teams had to deliver.
Number one France will face third-ranked Spain in Dallas on July 14. The following day in Atlanta, second-ranked Argentina meets fourth-ranked England.
This outcome defies recent history. In 2018, top-ranked Germany was eliminated in the group stage. In 2022, second-ranked Belgium suffered the same early exit.
The result is a powerful response to critics of the expanded 48-team format. Concerns about diluted quality are countered by a semifinal lineup featuring the game's elite.