The 2026 World Cup has become the edition where many 'curses' that have plagued the tournament for years and decades are broken, as the current edition's semifinals are set to witness an event not seen in the big football event for 36 years.

France, Spain, England and Argentina have secured their places in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, making it the first edition to feature four teams that have previously won the World Cup in the semifinals.

The World Cup semifinals have only featured four former champions twice before: first in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where Brazil (1958 and 1962 champions), Italy (1934 and 1938 champions), Uruguay (1930 and 1950 champions), and West Germany (1954 champions) advanced.

The second and most recent occasion of four champions in the semifinals was at Italia '90, featuring England, Italy, West Germany, and Argentina, who were the defending champions at the time; Argentina will now repeat this historic feat for the first time by reaching the semifinals in the edition following their title win.

It is worth noting that France won the title in 1998 and 2018, Spain in 2010, England in 1966, and Argentina in 1978, 1986 and 2022.