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Argentina, the defending World Cup champions and current No. 1-ranked team on the planet, have waltzed into the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup without playing a single opponent ranked in FIFA’s top 10. In 96 years of World Cup history, that has never happened before.
The path reads like a warm-up schedule: Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. Switzerland, ranked No. 19, was the toughest test. For context, that’s like the top seed in March Madness reaching the Final Four having only faced 11-seeds or lower.
The easiest road ever, by the numbers
Argentina eliminated six teams on their way to the final four. Not one of those six is a former World Cup winner. Not one sits inside the top 10 of FIFA’s rankings.
The 2026 tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expanded to 48 teams for the first time.
The top four FIFA-ranked teams at the start of the tournament — Argentina, Spain, France, and England — have all reached the semi-finals. That means Argentina’s free ride is officially over. From here, every remaining opponent is elite.
The expanded format and its market ripple effects
The 2026 World Cup’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams was controversial from the moment FIFA announced it. Critics warned it would dilute quality. Supporters argued it would grow the game globally.
The group stages featured more blowouts than usual, and the early knockout rounds saw heavy favorites cruise through. Argentina’s unblemished path is the most extreme example.
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