What teams are left in the World Cup? Here’s who’s in the semifinals

(TNND) — After nearly a month of matches across North America, the largest FIFA World Cup in history has been narrowed to just four teams.

The 2026 tournament began with a record 48 nations competing in 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first men’s World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries. Now, only France, Spain, England and defending champion Argentina remain in contention for soccer’s biggest prize.

The semifinal round begins Tuesday with France taking on Spain before England faces Argentina on Wednesday. The winners will advance to the World Cup final on July 19, while the losing teams will meet in the third-place playoff.

Each of the four remaining nations has previously lifted the World Cup trophy, setting up a star-studded finish to the tournament.

France is seeking its third World Cup title after championships in 1998 and 2018. Spain is chasing its second title after winning in 2010. Argentina enters the semifinals as the defending champion and is looking for a fourth World Cup crown after its triumph in 2022. England, meanwhile, is hoping to end a 60-year drought by capturing its second title, with its lone championship coming in 1966.

The final four also features some of the sport’s biggest names. France is led by Kylian Mbappé, who has scored eight goals during the tournament while pursuing a second World Cup title. Spain has relied on 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, while England has been powered by Jude Bellingham. Argentina continues to lean on Lionel Messi as the legendary captain looks to add another World Cup championship to his storied career.

The semifinals also represent a historic milestone. According to multiple reports, this is the first time since FIFA began publishing world rankings in 1992 that the top four-ranked men’s national teams have all reached the World Cup semifinals.

With just two matches separating the remaining teams from lifting the sport’s most coveted trophy, the expanded World Cup now shifts from a field of 48 nations to a battle among four of international soccer’s biggest powers.