France vs Spain World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Preview

On July 14, 2026, at 15:00 EST (20:00 GMT), France and Spain meet in a highly anticipated semi-final clash at Dallas Stadium. Both teams bring strong European pedigree to this stage, with France aiming for a third straight final appearance and Spain chasing their second World Cup semi-final since their 2010 triumph.

Path to the Semi-Finals

France have been impressive throughout the tournament, winning six matches in a row. They topped Group I and then knocked out Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco without conceding a single goal in the knockout rounds. Their tight 1-0 win over Paraguay was gritty, while the 2-0 victory against Morocco showed dominance, despite Kylian Mbappe missing a penalty. Mbappe redeemed himself by scoring and assisting Ousmane Dembele in the decisive moments, sending France into the final four. Coach Didier Deschamps is managing his 26th World Cup match and likely wants to finish with a memorable win.

Spain started slowly, drawing 0-0 with Cabo Verde. Yet, they found form as the tournament progressed, cruising past Austria 3-0 and edging Portugal 1-0 in the knockouts. Spain conceded their first goal against Belgium but won 2-1 to reach this encounter. This marks just their second World Cup semi-final, the first since lifting the trophy in South Africa 2010.

Key Players to Watch

Kylian Mbappe stands out for France with 20 World Cup goals, just one shy of Lionel Messi's record of 21. The 27-year-old could level or surpass that mark before Messi’s Argentina faces England. Mbappe focuses on team success but his goal-scoring prowess remains remarkable.

For Spain, Arsenal's Mikel Merino has proven a super sub, scoring winning goals in two knockout games after coming off the bench. He will likely try to influence the game again against France, whose substitutes have not yet scored in the knockout phase.

Historical Edge

Since the 2018 World Cup, Spain has lost only once in 27 major tournament matches, unbeaten in their last 14 games while keeping nine clean sheets. Luis de La Fuente’s squad has beaten France seven times in their last 10 meetings, including a 2-1 Euro 2024 semi-final win and a thrilling 5-4 victory in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final. Spain will feel confident heading into this match.

Projected Lineups

Didier Deschamps has not confirmed his lineup. Kylian Mbappe was substituted in the quarter-final due to an ankle injury but recent training videos show him moving well. Official confirmation on his availability is awaited closer to kickoff.

Spain’s coach Luis de La Fuente has no reported injuries or suspensions. The squad looks fit, with Lamine Yamal expected to play a key role.

Interesting Stats

• Eleven of France’s 16 World Cup goals came after halftime.
• France leads all nations with an average of 7.8 shots on target per game.
• Only four of Spain’s last 16 matches featured both teams scoring.
• Lamine Yamal has netted three goals in two games against France.
• Spain remains unbeaten in 36 games within 90 minutes since March 2024; a win here would match Italy’s all-time record of 37.

Squad Lists

France: Maignan, Risser, Samba; Digne, Gusto, Hernandez, Konate, Lacroix, Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano; Kante, Kone, Rabiot, Tchouameni, Zaire-Emery; Akliouche, Barcola, Cherki, Dembele, Doue, Olise, Mbappe, Mateta, Thuram.

Spain: Simon, Raya, García; Llorente, Pubill, Porro, Laporte, García, Cubarsi, Cucurella, Grimaldo; Rodri, Zubimendi, Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Fabian, Baena; Pino, Muñoz, Oyarzabal, Torres, Yamal, Olmo, Williams, Iglesias.