按照世界杯抽签规则，阿根廷和西班牙在决赛之前不会相遇（按世界杯抽签规定，阿根廷与西班牙仅决赛可能相遇）

Clarifying tournament structure

I’m considering the situation with Argentina and Spain in tournament contexts. Since they belong to different confederations, they can be grouped together unless pot assignments prevent it, like both being in Pot 1.

In the World Cup 2022, they were in Pot 1, which meant they couldn’t be in the same group, but they could potentially meet in the knockout stages before a final, like in the Round of 16. So yes, if bracket circumstances align, they could meet earlier than the final.Explaining bracket configurations

I’m contemplating the bracket arrangements, specifically regarding top seeds like Argentina and Spain. Even if they win their groups, the draw could place them on different sides of the bracket. In 2022, for instance, winners from Groups C and E could be arranged to avoid meeting until later stages. So, it’s not accurate to say they can't meet before the final – they could potentially face each other in the semifinals or earlier, depending on how the groups unfold. I'll ask the user if they're focusing on a specific year.Crafting a reply about matchups

I’m working on a response regarding the claim about Argentina and Spain's potential meeting. Generally, this claim is incorrect. FIFA's draw rules restrict same confederation teams from being in the same group, except UEFA. Argentina and Spain are from different confederations, so they could be placed in the same group if the pot assignments permit.

In the knockout stage, they could meet in the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, or Semifinals, depending on standings. For instance, if one tops their group and the other finishes second, meeting in the Round of 16 is possible.Analyzing potential matchups

I'm exploring the possibility of Argentina and Spain meeting in tournaments. In 2018, they were in separate groups, so they could have faced each other before the final. Fast forward to 2022: they were both placed in Pot 1, meaning if they topped their groups, they could end up on opposite sides of the bracket.

Looking at the 2022 bracket arrangements, the quarterfinal winners from one side (1A-2B and 1C-2D) could face off against those from the opposite side (1E-2F and 1G-2H). So, yes, they could meet in the semifinals if they progressed!Clarifying quarterfinal matchups

I’m breaking down the quarterfinals and how Argentina and Spain could potentially meet. Since the quarterfinals were split, with QF1 and QF2 on one side and QF3 and QF4 on the other, group winners from C and E would indeed end up on opposite halves. If Spain were in 1E and Argentina in 1C, they could only meet in the semifinals.

So, the original claim about them never meeting before the final is incorrect. I’ll ask the user which year they’re interested in!