For the first time since there have been Fifa rankings the top four ranked teams have made the semi-final of the World Cup.

The top four teams in Fifa's world rankings have made the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time. And the progress of Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3) and England (4) was aided by a Fifa change for the 2026 World Cup. They were put in separate quadrants of the draw so they could not meet before the semi-finals. The separation in the draw meant that Spain could not meet Argentina before the final. Additionally, England and France were put in opposite sides of the knockouts and on a path to meet either Spain or Argentina in the semi-finals if they all progressed. Fifa described the move as ensuring "competitive balance" by establishing "two separate pathways to the semi-finals". And now the semi-finals are France v Spain on Tuesday, and England v Argentina on Wednesday. A similar approach happens at Wimbledon, and in the new Champions League format, at which seeds are kept apart in pairs.