World Cup Semifinals: Four Previous Champions, a Bitter Rivalry, Mbappé vs Yamal and Messi vs Kane
France and Spain meet again as Mbappé and Yamal share the scoring lead, while Argentina and England renew a rivalry tied to World Cup history.
- On Tuesday, France plays Spain in Arlington, Texas, while England faces Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday in World Cup semifinals featuring four previous champions and top-ranked teams.
- England and Argentina resume a fierce rivalry stemming from the 1982 conflict over the Falklands Islands, with Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal in 1986 adding historical tension to their matchup.
- Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the tournament with eight goals each, while France enters the semifinal on Bastille Day as a formidable attacking force. Spain has relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to advance.
- Argentina seeks to become the first back-to-back champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. If Messi leads his team to victory, he would surpass Diego Maradona by winning two World Cups, strengthening his argument as the GOAT.
- Not since 1990 has the World Cup final four consisted entirely of previous winners. France and Spain also face a rematch of their Euro 84 final, while England looks to avenge previous losses against Argentina.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Radio France Internationale
Yamal aims to steal Mbappe's World Cup thunder in semi-final showdown
When Mbappe scored in France's win over Croatia in the deciding match of the 2018 tournament, he was just 19 years and 207 days old. He therefore became only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final after a 17-year-old Pele in 1958. Mbappe's love affair with the World Cup began then, while this is Yamal's first experience of the competition. He has already had his big breakthrough in a major tournament, however –- Yamal's stunning goal …
Associated Press News
World Cup semifinals: Four previous champions, a bitter rivalry, Mbappé vs Yamal and Messi vs Kane
It’s a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages. Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world.
Football legend Lothar Matthäus in conversation with moderator Carli Underberg.
Semifinal Matchups Between 'Countries with 3rd Overall Championship Experience' Lionel Messi [AFP=Yonhap News] (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Young-ho = An epic showdown between superstars that will delight football fans around the world will unfold in the semifinals of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup. The semifinal matchups, pitting teams against each other for a coveted spot in the final, are literally a head-on clash of 'football dignity'. The …
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