How the World Cup final four have performed in major tournament semi-finals: Win rates, results as England face Argentina after Spain beat France

React to this story

The World Cup semi-finals are set, with England's mouth-watering clash with Argentina still to come after European champions Spain stunned tournament favourites France. But which of these nations has the best semi-final record?

Mind games? Deschamps says Spain are 'favourites' in semi-final

Video credit: SNTV

Argentina are the most successful of these countries at the World Cup, having won it three times, in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

Once inspired by Diego Maradona, it is now another all-time great in Lionel Messi attempting to guide La Albiceleste to more glory.

France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, while England (1966) and Spain (2010) have one each.

World Cup

UEFA confirms intention to boycott World Cup amid Infantino spin-off plan

30/07/2026 at 20:48

This is not new territory, then, for the top four teams in the FIFA World Rankings.

Between them, they have played in 16 World Cup semi-finals, with varying degrees of success.

England have been in three of those semi-finals, only winning one. That was in 1966, on the way to the trophy, when Sir Alf Ramsey's side beat Portugal 2-1 at Wembley thanks to a brace from Sir Bobby Charlton.

Since then, there has been penalty shoot-out heartbreak versus West Germany in 1990, and a 2-1 loss to Croatia after extra-time in 2018.

England have also played in four semi-finals at the Euros, losing two and winning two.

Encouragingly, the two semi-final victories came in the two most recent editions of the tournament: Gareth Southgate's team beat Denmark after extra-time in 2021, and then the Netherlands 2-1 in 2024.

In total, at major tournaments, England have won three semi-finals, and lost four, a success rate of 42.86%.

Defending champions Argentina have an ominously strong record in World Cup semi-finals.

They won their first last-four tie in the inaugural World Cup, thrashing the USA 6-1 before losing to hosts Uruguay in the final.

In 1986, a Maradona-inspired Argentina beat Belgium 2-0 to progress to another World Cup final.

In 2014, the South American side beat the Netherlands on penalties after a goalless draw in the semi-finals, and in 2022, they cruised past Croatia 3-0 in the last four.

It is a 100% record for Argentina in World Cup semi-finals, then, but what about the Copa America?

They lost their first semi-final in the South American competition after the format changed, beaten 1-0 by Uruguay in 1987.

Semi-final victories against Colombia in 1993 and 2004, Mexico in 2007, Paraguay in 2015 and the USA in 2016 followed.

Argentina were beaten 2-0 by Brazil in the last four in 2019, but have bounced back since with semi-final wins over Colombia and Canada on their way to the 2021 and 2024 titles.

In total, Argentina have won 11 of their 13 semi-finals in major tournaments, a formidable success rate of 84.62%.

France, meanwhile, have now played in eight World Cup semi-finals, moving level with Brazil (Germany have played in the most: 12).

It is a mixed bag in terms of results for Les Blues, who lost their first three World Cup semis, against Pele's Brazil in 1958, West Germany in 1982 and West Germany again in 1986.

Recent history had boded well, though, with four successive wins, beginning with a 2-1 win over Croatia as hosts in 1998.

Then came a 1-0 win against Portugal in Germany in 2006, before Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt and a defeat to Italy in the final.

Didier Deschamps' France won 1-0 against Belgium in their 2018 semi, and beat Morocco 2-0 in the last four in 2022.

However, their journey in 2026 came to an end following defeat to Spain.

In the Euros, France first reached the semi-finals in 1984, when they beat Portugal 3-2 after extra-time.

They lost to the Czech Republic on penalties at Old Trafford in the last four in 1996, but four years later beat Portugal on their way to becoming European champions.

France beat Germany 2-0 in the semis as Euro 2016 hosts, but lost to Spain at the same stage of Euro 2024.

Finally, Spain have played the fewest semi-finals of the countries remaining in the 2026 World Cup with two.

Remarkably, La Roja had only reached the last four at a World Cup once before, when they won the tournament under Vicente del Bosque in 2010.

A header from Carles Puyol gave Spain a 1-0 victory over Germany in that semi-final, helping the Iberians towards their first World Cup triumph.

There have been more semis at the Euros; first, in 1984, when they beat Denmark on penalties before losing to France in the final.

Spain won semi-finals in both 2008 and 2012 in an era of unprecedented success, swatting aside Russia 3-0 in Vienna and Portugal on penalties in Donetsk.

They were beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley in 2021, but then defeated France 2-1 in their Euro 2024 semi.

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Stream the Premier League, men’s and women’s FA Cups, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

World Cup