First World Cup final four of all champs since 1990
This is the first World Cup since 1990 in which all four semifinal teams are former World Cup champions.
Where this was said
World Cup Semifinals: Historic Final Four
At 4:49 · chapter starts 4:40
The 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final stages with a historically rare semifinal lineup. France faces Spain on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas — a matchup that pits Kylian Mbappé against Spain's teenage sensation — while defending champion Argentina takes on England in Atlanta on Wednesday. The anchor notes the striking historical footnote: this is the first World Cup since 1990 in which all four semifinalists are former champions, making the tournament's final weekend as gilded a field as football has seen in decades.
World Cup Semifinals: A Historic Final Four
The 2026 World Cup semifinals feature France vs. Spain and Argentina vs. England — the first time all four semifinalists have been former champions since 1990. Kylian Mbappé and teenage Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal headline the first match in Arlington, Texas.
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