The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain
The World Cup semifinals are set to feature top-ranked teams France, Spain, Argentina, and England in high-stakes matchups. The games, held in the United States, highlight the competitive intensity between the world's leading football nations.
Why it matters
The World Cup is a major global cultural and sporting event that significantly impacts international media attention and sports economics.
It's been a thrilling World Cup — and it's now down to a pair of stellar semifinal matchups, led by these stars (L to R): Spain's Lamine Yamal taking on France's Kylian Mbappé, and England's Jude Bellingham against Argentina's Lionel Messi. / Getty Images Late last year, when the FIFA World Cup draw was set, the world's four top-ranked teams were placed in opposite corners of a new, expanded knockout bracket.
Spain, Argentina, France and England have held FIFA's top four international spots for almost exactly two years. Now, they will face each other for the right to hoist the World Cup trophy: France versus Spain on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, followed by Argentina against England on Wednesday in Atlanta — then the winners' faceoff at Sunday's final in East Rutherford, N.J.
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