The World Cup Is Nearing Its End: A Simple Guide to the Semifinalists and Other Big Stories

Why We’ll Miss This Tournament

The World Cup (a giant soccer tournament where countries play each other) is finishing up next week, and we’re going to miss it!

• Just yesterday we enjoyed two exciting quarterfinal matches (games that decide which four teams reach the semifinals):
  • England beat Norway 2‑1.
  • Argentina beat Switzerland (with a little help from a controversial video review).
• Because of these results, the “last four” teams are now set.
• There are no more games until Tuesday, so let’s get to know the teams that are still in the fight.

Important: A “quarterfinal” is like a round of 8 teams; the winners go to the “semifinals” (last 4). The semifinal winners play in the final.

The Main Thing: Meet the Semifinalists

Even though the tournament had some surprise wins by underdog teams, the four highest‑ranked teams ended up in the semifinals. In many ways, this is the group many people predicted, but getting here was not easy!

The four teams are:

1. England (nicknamed the “Three Lions”)
2. Argentina (the defending champions)
3. France (nicknamed “Les Bleus”)
4. Spain (nicknamed “La Roja”)

Let’s look at each one in a super simple way.

England: The Three Lions

• England started the tournament well with a 4‑2 win against Croatia, but since then they have looked a bit shaky.
• They have stayed alive thanks to two amazing players:
  • Harry Kane – a “striker” (a player whose main job is to score goals). He is a pure goal‑scorer.
  • Jude Bellingham (age 23) – he plays kind of everywhere on the field and is very tough to stop. He scored two goals (called a “brace”) against Norway to win the game 2‑1.
• Both Kane and Bellingham have scored 6 goals each in the tournament. Without them, England would have gone home earlier.
• The team sometimes looks messy at the back (their defenders), but the front players save them.
• England last won the World Cup in 1966, so there is huge pressure on these stars.
• They were in a semifinal in 2018 but lost to Croatia.
• Their next game is against Argentina on Wednesday.

Important: After the Norway win, England’s manager Thomas Tuchel said the team was “sloppy” and “lucky.” Star player Bellingham politely disagreed, saying the team is keeping a positive environment. The author thinks this honest back‑and‑forth shows strong personalities that could help England win.

Argentina: The Defending Champions

• Argentina won the World Cup in 2022, so they are the champions trying to repeat.
• Like England, they have looked shaky but know how to “win ugly” (not pretty soccer, just enough to get the win).
• They usually rely on Lionel Messi (a famous “magic man”), but in the last game it was Julián Alvarez who scored a fantastic goal in extra time (added minutes after the regular game ends) to beat Switzerland.
• Argentina has scored the most goals of any team in the tournament: 17.
• Many of their players won the title in 2022, so they have lots of experience.
• They play England on Wednesday, and it should be a fireworks show!

Important: A controversial VAR call (explained later) helped Argentina in the Switzerland game, making some fans think referees are favoring them (though there’s no proof).

France: Les Bleus

• France is seen by many as the favorite to win it all.
• They have played so easily that they seem to be in “first gear” while others struggle.
• Their super‑talented front line includes:
  • Kylian Mbappé – super fast and scores lots.
  • Ousmane Dembélé and other scary attackers.
• Their legendary manager Didier Deschamps is leaving after this tournament, so they want to send him off with another trophy (they won in 2018).
• They play Spain on Tuesday.

Spain: La Roja

• Spain was expected to do well, and they made the semifinals, but they haven’t played super exciting soccer.
• Teenage star Lamine Yamal hasn’t shined yet, possibly because of an injury he had before the tournament.
• Their midfield (players in the middle) and defense are strong – they have let in only one goal the whole tournament.
• Recent history favors Spain: they beat France in the Euro 2024 semifinal and in the Nations League last year.
• Whoever wins France vs Spain will likely be the favorite for the final on July 19.

A Story About Kids’ Soccer in the USA

The USA team lost early (in the Round of 16) to Belgium. This brought attention to how young players are trained in America.

• CNN writer Hannah Keyser published a great story about one family’s journey through “pay‑to‑play” youth soccer.
• This means parents must pay thousands of dollars each year for their kids to play competitive soccer.
• From the article:
  • Parents across the country told CNN they spend thousands yearly.
  • Club fees can be as high as $3,500 for nine‑year‑olds in wealthy areas.
  • It’s not just the entry fee; it’s the cost to stay competitive and the “fear of missing out.”
  • Youth sports push kids to specialize earlier, and families who go the competitive route feel they must spend more.
• The USA’s early exit renewed criticism that this system limits the country’s success.

Important: The pay‑to‑play model may stop talented kids from poor families, which could hurt the national team in future World Cups.

Controversy: The Switzerland Red Card Explained

Switzerland’s coach Murat Yakin was very angry after his team lost. He said:

“We were punished because of a rule that in my opinion is completely unacceptable.”

Here’s what happened in simple steps:

1. Swiss player Breel Embolo already had a yellow card (a warning) from earlier in the match.
2. In the second half, Embolo seemed to be fouled by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, and Paredes got a yellow card.
3. VAR (Video Assistant Referee – a team watching the video to help the referee) looked at the replay.
4. The video showed Embolo actually threw himself in front of his opponent (called a “dive”).
5. A new rule this summer let VAR tell the referee he made a mistake, so the referee instead booked Embolo for diving.
6. Because Embolo already had a yellow card, this second yellow meant a red card (he had to leave the field).
7. With Switzerland down a player, Argentina found it easier to win.

Important: A red card means a player is sent off and cannot return; two yellow cards equal a red.

Sad News: Jayden Adams Dies

• Jayden Adams, a 25‑year‑old midfielder from South Africa, played in all three of his country’s group‑stage games at the tournament.
• Just weeks later, he passed away. CNN’s Don Riddell has a short video report about this.

Record TV Viewership in the USA

• The Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium was the most‑watched soccer match in US television history (according to FIFA).
• Total combined viewers: 46 million.
  • FOX channel averaged 33.1 million (peaking at 41 million).
  • Spanish‑language Telemundo drew 12.9 million.
• The USA lost 4‑1, but the huge numbers show soccer is more popular than ever in America.

Manager and Player Disagreement (England)

After England beat Norway:

• Manager Thomas Tuchel said: “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.”
• Player Jude Bellingham responded: “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions. We’ve tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that going into the final four.”
• The author (an England fan) says this honest talk is a good sign. When everyone speaks their mind and aims their “ego” in the right direction, it can help win games.

Summary

• The World Cup is almost over; the semifinals are Tuesday (France vs Spain) and Wednesday (England vs Argentina).
• All four remaining teams are top‑ranked but have relied on star players and messy wins.
• Controversies (like the Switzerland red card) and sad news (Jayden Adams) marked the week.
• In the USA, a record 46 million watched the team’s loss, but the pay‑to‑play youth system is under scrutiny.
• Personalities like Tuchel and Bellingham show that strong characters might be England’s secret weapon.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is a “semifinal” in the World Cup?
It’s a game between the last 4 teams. The two winners go to the final to decide the champion.

2. What does “VAR” mean in simple terms?
VAR stands for Video Assistant Referee. It’s like a helper who watches the game on a screen and tells the main referee if they made a clear mistake.

3. Why was the Switzerland player sent off?
He had already gotten one yellow card (warning). After video review, he was given a second yellow for pretending to be fouled (diving), and two yellows mean you must leave the game with a red card.

4. Why are people talking about US youth soccer?
Because the US team lost early, and a CNN story showed that kids’ soccer in America costs a lot of money (sometimes $3,500 for a 9‑year‑old), which may stop talented kids from poorer families.

5. When is the World Cup final?
Based on the article, the final is on July 19.