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- Recommended Stories
- How did France and Spain reach the semifinals?
- ‘This France team has not achieved anything yet’: Mbappe
- ‘This is a final before the final’: Spain coach
- France vs Spain prediction
- Who will the winner face in the final?
- France vs Spain: Head-to-head
- France vs Spain: Last five matches
- France vs Spain: Where to watch, kickoff time
- France vs Spain: Team news
- France’s predicted lineup
- Spain’s predicted lineup
- What happens if the semifinal match ends in a draw?
Two wins to go. How can your team reach the final and win the World Cup ۲۰۲۶? Click here to find out.
Who: France vs Spain
What: FIFA World Cup ۲۰۲۶ – Semifinal ۱
Where: Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the United States
When: Tuesday at ۲pm (۱۹:۰۰ GMT)
How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from ۱۶:۰۰ GMT before our live text commentary stream.
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Grab your popcorn, crack open a cold one – it’s time for the World Cup semifinals.
Two-time world champions France – frontrunners to add another one to their tally – face European champions Spain in the biggest match so far of the ۲۰۲۶ World Cup.
History is within touching distance for Les Bleus, who can become only the second European nation to play three successive World Cup finals after West Germany.
But standing in France’s way is a slick and sturdy Spain, the familiar foes with whom they share a storied rivalry.
Tuesday’s opening final four fixture will be a clash of styles: France’s fiery, irrepressible attacking going up against Spain’s controlled, careful game.
Here’s all you need to know about the first semifinal:
How did France and Spain reach the semifinals?
France topped Group I with a perfect record of nine points, winning against Norway, Senegal and Iraq. They thrashed Sweden ۳-۰ in the round of ۳۲ before beating a stubborn Paraguay side ۱-۰ in the last ۱۶ and sailing into the semifinals with a dominant ۲-۰ win over Morocco.
Spain topped Group H with seven points, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and drawing with Cape Verde. They began their knockout campaign with a ۳-۰ thrashing of Austria in the round of ۳۲ before beating Portugal ۱-۰ with a late goal in an Iberian football derby in the round of ۱۶.
Their route to the semifinals was confirmed with a late ۲-۱ win over Belgium.
‘This France team has not achieved anything yet’: Mbappe
France’s enviable attacking unit has delivered like no other in the tournament.
The dazzling Kylian Mbappe has scored eight goals in five games, making him the current leader in the race for the Golden Boot, while Ousmane Dembele has bagged five goals. Bradley Barcola has also chipped in two, and Michael Olise is their best playmaker with five assists.
Those figures have prompted comparisons with the greats of the past, but despite their highly impressive World Cup campaign their captain Mbappe said the current crop of players have not yet reached the crucial point in their title journey.
“I was a champion [in ۲۰۱۸] and a World Cup runner-up [in ۲۰۲۲], and this team has not achieved anything yet,” said Mbappe, who has ۲۰ goals from ۲۰ appearances in three World Cup tournaments, with four of those goals coming in the finals.
“It is, however, the one who has the biggest potential. There are so many qualities in this squad; it allows you to dream.”
France have reached four of the last seven World Cup finals, lifting the trophy in ۱۹۹۸ and ۲۰۱۸, and losing in ۲۰۰۶ and ۲۰۲۲.
If they beat Spain, France will sustain comparisons with West Germany, arguably the ultimate tournament nation, with four finals between ۱۹۷۴ and ۱۹۹۰.
‘This is a final before the final’: Spain coach
Unlike France, who are a highly attacking side, Spain have opted for a controlled approach. La Roja’s tight defence has conceded just once – against Belgium in the quarterfinals – while Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo rarely cede control in midfield.
Soon after Spain secured their spot in the semifinals, coach Luis de la Fuente emphasised the importance of their upcoming clash with France, adding that his FIFA world-ranked number three side is capable of beating any team.
“It’s not an exaggeration to describe this match as a final before the final,” he said.
“We’re one of the teams capable of reaching the final. From now on, we are fully focused on France.”
“We’re aware of their immense potential, but we also know that we’re the only team to have beaten them in two semifinals,” he added.
Indeed, Spain defeated France in the Euro ۲۰۲۴ semifinals on their way to becoming European champions, and in the ۲۰۲۵ UEFA Nations League semifinals.
France vs Spain prediction
Opta’s supercomputer gives France a ۴۲.۱ percent probability of winning in regulation time, while Spain’s chances of winning are ۳۱.۸ percent.
The model estimates a ۲۶.۱ percent probability of the game going to extra time.
Who will the winner face in the final?
The winner of the France vs Spain semifinal will face either England or Argentina in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
France vs Spain: Head-to-head
France and Spain are familiar foes, having faced each other ۳۸ times to date.
Spain hold the upper hand in their head-to-head record, having won ۱۸ matches. France have won ۱۳ times, while seven matches ended in a draw.
Their last meeting was the Nations League semifinal played in Germany about a year ago, when Spain thrashed France ۵-۴ in an exhilarating contest with Yamal’s brace sending them through.
France vs Spain: Last five matches
- Spain ۵-۴ France (UEFA Nations League ۲۰۲۵ semifinals)
- Spain ۲-۱ France (Euro ۲۰۲۴ semifinals)
- Spain ۱-۲ France (UEFA Nations League ۲۰۲۱ final)
- France ۰-۲ Spain (international friendly, ۲۰۱۷)
- France ۱-۰ Spain (international friendly, ۲۰۱۴)
France vs Spain: Where to watch, kickoff time
- France: beIN Sports, M۶, M۶+ (۹pm, Central European Summer Time)
- Spain: DAZN Mundial (۹pm, Central European Summer Time)
- United Kingdom: TBA (۸pm, British Summer Time)
- USA: Fox, Fox One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (۳pm, Eastern Daylight Time)
To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.
France vs Spain: Team news
France’s midfielders Kone (physical discomfort) and Tchouameni (groin) are doubtful, while defenders Upamecano and Saliba (back injury) did not take part in Saturday’s training session.
No injuries have been reported in the Spain camp.
France’s predicted lineup
(۴-۲-۳-۱): Maignan (goalkeeper); Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Spain’s predicted lineup
(۴-۲-۳-۱): Simon (goalkeeper); Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
