The top 5 times in the World Cup semifinals: Argentina is not as good as France, Italy is third, and Brazil is not the first

The 2026 World Cup is approaching, and the discussion on who will win next year's World Cup championship has also become a hot topic for fans. Is it whether Argentina led by Messi to defend its title successfully, or France, which has a lot of talents, has won the cup again after 8 years, or whether other teams have reached the highest podium, and the fans are discussing it in full swing. Although we don’t know the final championship, we look forward to the teams playing exciting games in next year’s World Cup to feast the fans’ eyes. Today, let’s review the past World Cup stadiums and take a look at the five teams that have advanced to the semi-finals in World Cup history.

Argentina World Cup semi-finals 6 times

Defensive champion Argentina has reached the semi-finals 6 times in World Cup history, and has the magic of reaching the semi-finals and must reach the finals. In the first World Cup in 1930, Argentina successfully reached the semi-finals and finally advanced to the final. Argentina lost the game regretfully in the final and finished second. In the 1978 World Cup, Argentina ushered in an explosion at home. The team beat Brazil in the second stage to advance to the finals, and finally defeated the Netherlands in the final to win the first World Cup championship. After Argentina qualified in the group in the 1986 World Cup, she defeated Uruguay and England in the knockout stage to advance to the semi-finals, and successfully reached the final, defeated Germany in the final, and won the second World Cup championship. Argentina reached the finals in the 1990 World Cup, but was revenged by Germany and ranked second. Time comes to the 2014 World Cup, Messi led Argentina to defeat Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands in the knockout round to advance to the finals, and eventually lost to Germany again and missed the championship. Argentina finally ushered in the third championship in the 2022 World Cup. They defeated France at a penalty kick in the final and won the World Cup again after 36 years.

France 7 times in the World Cup semi-finals

France has reached the semi-finals 7 times in the World Cup, even once more than Argentina. French player Fondane scored 13 goals in the 1958 World Cup, setting a single World Cup goal record, and France also reached the semi-finals in this World Cup and finally finished third. France passed two stages of the World Cup in 1982 and successfully advanced to the semi-finals, finally finishing fourth in the World Cup. France defeated Brazil in the quarterfinals in the 1986 World Cup and entered the semi-finals. Although she lost to Germany in the semi-finals, the team still achieved the third place in the World Cup. In the 1998 French Domestic World Cup, France defeated Brazil in the final and won its first World Cup championship. France reached the finals after 8 years in the 2006 World Cup, but Zidane bid farewell to his career with a red card, and France eventually finished second. In the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe led France to beat the finals, and eventually defeated the Grid Army and won the World Cup championship. France reached the World Cup finals in 2022, but France lost the penalty kick and had to finish second. France won 2 Hercules Cup Cups in seven World Cup semi-finals.

Italy The World Cup Final Four 8 times

Four-star Italy has reached the semi-final Four 8 times in World Cup history, and won 4 finals. Italy won two consecutive World Cups in 1934 and 1938 World Cups. After 32 years passed, Italy reached the semi-finals again in the 1970 World Cup and advanced to the final, but lost to Brazil in the final and finished second. At the 1978 World Cup and 1982 World Cup, Italy reached the semi-finals twice in a row, and won fourth place in the World Cup in 1978. In the 1982 World Cup, Italy successfully defeated Germany in the final and won the third World Cup championship. Italy once again reached the semi-finals twice in the 1990 World Cup and the 1994 World Cup, but Italy did not win the championship these two times, winning the third place in the 1990 World Cup and losing to Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final. Italy reached the finals after many years in the 2006 World Cup. This time they became the winner of the penalty shootout, defeating France in the final and winning the World Cup. After 2006, Italy has never reached the semi-finals again, and has not even been involved in the World Cup knockout stage.

Brazil has reached the semi-finals of the World Cup 11 times, and Brazil has reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 1938, and finally won the third place. In 1950, Brazil once again reached the semi-finals and won the runner-up. In 1958 and 1962, Brazil won two World Cup titles. Brazil won the third championship in the 1970 World Cup, and this was the fifth time that the Samba Army reached the semi-finals. In the 1974 World Cup and the 1978 World Cup, Brazil reached the semi-finals in a row, but unfortunately they fell in the semi-finals twice. In the 1994 World Cup, Brazil defeated Italy in the final penalty shootout and won the fourth World Cup championship. In 1998, Brazil reached the final again, but unfortunately it lost to the host France and ranked second. In the 2002 World Cup, Brazil successfully defeated Germany in the final and won the fifth World Cup championship. In the 2014 Brazilian Domestic World Cup, Brazil successfully reached the semi-finals, but was 7-1 battered by Germany in the semi-finals, becoming an eternal pain for Brazilian fans. Brazil reached the semi-finals 11 times in the World Cup, second only to Germany.

Germany, the World Cup semi-finals 13 times

13 times, Germany is the team that has advanced to the semi-finals 4. In 1934, Germany reached the semi-finals 4 for the first time and finally won the third place. Germany, which once again reached the semi-finals in 1954, finally won the championship as he wished. Germany reached the semi-finals twice in 1958, but this time it fell outside the finals. In the 1966 World Cup, Germany lost to England in the final and watched his opponent win the championship. Germany won the third place in the 1970 World Cup and Germany won the second championship in the 1974 World Cup. In the 1982, 1986 and 1990 World Cups, Germany reached the World Cup final three times and won one championship and two Asian Cups. Germany entered the finals again in 2002 and finally finished second. In the 2006 World Cup, Germany won 2-0 in the semi-finals and finally won the third place. In 2010, Germany reached the semi-finals again and fell to the semi-finals again. In the 2014 World Cup, Germany defeated Brazil in the semi-finals and defeated Argentina in the finals, winning the fourth World Cup championship in team history. Germany has not reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for more than ten years.