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World Cup Semifinals Feature Only Former Champions for First Time in 36 Years

The final four also occupy the top four positions in the latest FIFA world rankings

Published on July 13, 2026


World Cup Semifinals Feature Only Former Champions for First Time in 36 Years

For the first time since the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, all four semifinalists are former world champions. Argentina (three titles), France (two), Spain (one), and England (one) have combined for seven World Cup trophies, representing nearly one-third of the 22 editions of the tournament.

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