World Cup format challenged after France’s semifinal exit

By Arjun Nair / 16.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 15 July 2026 — 3 min read

France’s World Cup Journey Ends in Semifinal Defeat

France, a dominant force throughout the World Cup, saw their campaign conclude with a 2-0 loss to Spain in the semifinal. This defeat marked their first of the tournament, despite having won six prior matches, scoring 16 goals, conceding only two, and maintaining clean sheets in all three knockout games leading up to the semifinal. Their path included a 3-0 victory over Sweden, a 1-0 win against Paraguay, and a 2-0 success in the quarter-final against Morocco.

The outcome has led to discussions regarding the tournament’s unforgiving format, where a single defeat can end a team’s journey, regardless of their previous performance. Spain controlled the semifinal match, effectively neutralizing France’s press and preventing Kylian Mbappé from impacting the game in his usual manner. Spain’s advancement was seen as deserved given their performance in the match.

Mbappé’s Golden Boot Pursuit Continues

Kylian Mbappé, a central figure for France, entered the semifinal with eight goals and three assists, directly contributing to nearly 69 percent of his team’s goals. He was the leading scorer in the tournament based on the assists tiebreaker. Despite his strong individual performance throughout the competition, he found it difficult to create chances against Spain, registering the fewest touches of any forward in the first half with 15.

Mbappé’s best opportunity in the match came in the 67th minute, but his shot deflected off a Spanish defender. He also received a yellow card in the 86th minute after a collision with Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simon. Mbappé, who won the Golden Boot at the previous World Cup, remains in contention for the award in the current tournament, tied with Lionel Messi with eight goals each, with Mbappé holding the tiebreaker due to his three assists compared to Messi’s two.

The French captain acknowledged the defeat, stating that not winning is part of the game and accepting responsibility. He noted that Spain’s control of the ball and midfield was a key factor in their loss, suggesting that France was not at the required level to reach the final.

Impact of the Knockout Format

The nature of the World Cup‘s knockout rounds means that a single poor performance can be irreversible, contrasting with league formats or two-legged knockout ties where teams have opportunities to recover. In a league, France’s defeat would have been damaging but not terminal, allowing for a response in subsequent matches. Similarly, a two-legged knockout, like in the Champions League, would have provided France with a chance to adjust tactics for a second leg, judging their performance over 180 minutes rather than one evening.

However, the current format, while potentially harsh on teams like France, is also what gives the trophy its unique weight and appeal. While a 48-team round-robin tournament would be impractical due to its length and the number of matches, and two-legged knockouts would present challenges regarding host countries and player workload, the single-match elimination creates intense, decisive moments. France’s first defeat of the tournament ultimately outweighed their previous six victories.

Mbappé’s failure to influence the game against Spain does not diminish his overall tournament performance, but in the World Cup, the biggest match often carries the most weight in the final verdict. Messi and defending champion Argentina are scheduled to play in the other semifinal match against England.

Source: hindustantimes.com