World Cup Final Week! The Hottest Semifinals, The Top Four

Written by Han Bing This is the most well-deserved World Cup semifinal lineup in history: since FIFA introduced its world ranking system at the end of 1992, it is the first time that the top four ranked teams have all reached the semifinals.

Whether you look at the FIFA rankings released before the tournament or the updated standings after the quarterfinals, France, Spain, Argentina, and England occupy the top four spots. In previous World Cups, at most two semifinalists were ranked in the world's top four. Using world rankings as a benchmark, the semifinalists of the US-Canada-Mexico World Cup are undoubtedly the strongest ever.

Before the US-Canada-Mexico World Cup began, the top four in the world rankings were Argentina, Spain, France, and England. After the quarterfinals, the top three shifted: France moved up from third to first, proving their consistent performance throughout the group stage and knockout rounds. The other three teams also safely secured their spots in the semifinals.

Secondly, this is the first time since the 1990 World Cup (36 years later) that all four semifinalists are former world champions, and it is also only the third time in World Cup history that all semifinalists have won the title before. Furthermore, Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, France were the runners-up of the previous World Cup, Spain are the reigning European champions, and England were the runners-up of the European Championship.

Moreover, after the group stage, the top four teams on the championship odds list all advanced to the semifinals: France (4.33), Argentina (5.00), Spain and England (8.00). This outcome was widely expected.

Finally, the three most valuable squads in this World Cup — France (€1.53 billion), England (€1.31 billion), and Spain (€1.26 billion) — have all made it to the semifinals, while Argentina, ranked 8th in squad value (€819 million), also joined them.

From every angle, the semifinalists of this World Cup are undoubtedly the four strongest national teams in international football in recent years.

Looking at their journeys to the semifinals, all four teams advanced without a loss. France won all six matches in regular time, Spain recorded five wins and one draw, while England and Argentina each had four wins and two draws in regular time. However, England played one extra-time match in the knockout stage, and Argentina played two.

The semifinals on the 15th and 16th (Beijing time) will feature two classic encounters: the clash between France and Spain pits the world's top two ranked teams against each other and is widely considered an early final. Naturally, it is also a duel between superstars Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. As for the other semifinal between England and Argentina, these two teams have already produced two memorable classic matches in World Cup history, in 1986 and 1998. Will this be the third time they create a legendary matchup that fans will talk about for years to come?