The Spanish team qualified on the evening of the day before yesterday, Friday, to the World Cup semi-finals after overcoming Belgium 2-1, to face France, who had already qualified for this round after eliminating the brotherly Moroccan team from the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory.

Many technical analysts and critics consider the match between these two teams in the first semi-final, which will be held on Tuesday evening, an early final between the two best teams in the tournament and the favorites to win the title. They have previously faced each other in the Euro 2024 semi-final, a match that Spain won, reaching the Euro final and winning the title.

But the rituals of the World Cup differ from the Euro, and the excellent technical form of the French team makes it the closest to reaching the final through Spain, unless Yamal and his teammates have another say. We will not underestimate the teams on the other side, from which one team will reach the final, likely confined to England and Argentina. And who knows, perhaps Haaland and his teammates will make history and lead Norway to the final; anything is possible in football. However, I tip England to reach the World Cup final after a sixty-year absence from this great final.

We will not jump ahead and talk about the historic final of the 2026 World Cup before its features become clear, but all hopes are for a technically exciting final without significant refereeing errors, reflecting the value and status of the tournament, and for the deserving team to win the title.

Centers of Power in World Football

The last three editions of the World Cup, including this one, have brought about a major change in the centers of power in world football. France has been and still is strongly present in those editions, reaching the final twice consecutively and on its way to a third final, winning the title once and finishing as runners-up once, with the continued contribution of the defending champion Argentina, which still has strong chances to reach the final of this edition.

What is surprising is the clear absence of true competition in those editions from Brazil and Germany, and before them Italy, which has not qualified for the finals for the third consecutive time. There is a clear and explicit return of England, hoping to restore glory to the cradle of football after a long absence. There are teams that have emerged in these finals, such as Croatia, the brotherly Moroccan team, and Belgium. In this edition specifically, Norway is added to them.

The teams of Brazil, Germany, and Italy are pillars of world football and have a golden history in the World Cup with 13 titles. Their return to competition in upcoming World Cup editions is very important for global football, alongside the continued presence of France, Spain, and Argentina, and the entry of other teams into the competition such as Morocco, Norway, Croatia, and Portugal. This will add more competitiveness, excitement, and suspense to future World Cups.

In a Nutshell

- What the great striker Kylian Mbappé offers with the French national team in the World Cup is a great performance that he does not offer with his club Real Madrid. Does the French national team's head coach play a big role in that, or does giving him the captain's armband place a great responsibility on him that makes him shine on the pitch, or do both contribute? Will we see him shine in Madrid with Mourinho next season, and will he be given the captaincy at Real Madrid?

- For the thousandth time, Messi proves that he is the current legend of world football. He led his country's team to snatch a difficult victory from the brotherly Egyptian team, which shone in the match and put in a great performance, losing it in the final meters for many reasons, most notably the presence of the legend Messi.

- We may see a repeat of the 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina, or perhaps a historic final between France and England, or France may be absent and Spain present to face England or Argentina. But I am certain that the final will not go beyond these four teams. When the picture becomes clear regarding the two sides of this final, we will have a pause with it.

See you.

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- Mohammed Al-Mudaiyfer

X: @mohdalimod

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