France vs Spain World Cup 2026 Semifinal Preview: Dallas Showdown
Two of the tournament's most in-form sides collide on Tuesday, with a Euro 2024 rematch and a place in the July 19 final on the line at AT&T Stadium.
Match Details: Kickoff Time, Venue and How to Watch
France and Spain meet in the second semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, July 14, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The winner advances to the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, where they will face the victor of the tournament's other semifinal. The match is set to air on FOX and stream via the FOX One app in the United States, with international broadcasters carrying the game in dozens of markets worldwide.
It is the first time France and Spain have ever met in a World Cup match at any stage, let alone a semifinal, adding a fresh layer of intrigue to a rivalry that has otherwise been building steadily at continental level over the past two years.
France's Road to Dallas
Didier Deschamps' side has been the most dominant team in the competition, dispatching Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinal on July 9 thanks to second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Mbappé's strike was his eighth of the tournament in six appearances, keeping him at or near the top of the Golden Boot race, while Michael Olise has quietly been just as influential, arriving at the semifinal with a tournament-high six assists.
The one shadow over an otherwise ideal French campaign is Mbappé's fitness. The forward went down clutching his leg in the 77th minute against Morocco and asked to be substituted, sparking an immediate injury scare. Mbappé downplayed the issue afterward, telling reporters "everything is OK," and a source close to the France camp reportedly told ESPN there are "no concerns" over his ankle. Barring a setback in the final training sessions before kickoff, Mbappé is expected to start against Spain, though French staff will monitor him closely through the buildup.
Beyond the Mbappé watch, France's squad otherwise appears to be in good health, and Deschamps has been able to rotate his attacking options through the knockout rounds without disrupting the team's rhythm. The perfect record through six games -- three group-stage wins followed by three knockout victories -- has made France the bookmakers' favorite heading into the final four.
Spain's Road to Dallas
Luis de la Fuente's Spain has taken a different path to the semifinal, grinding out tighter results rather than overwhelming opponents. Spain needed a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino in the 88th minute, after Fabián Ruiz had put them ahead, to see off a resilient Belgium side 2-1 in the quarterfinal on July 10. It capped a run in which every Spain victory at the tournament, aside from an opening 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 3-0 round-of-32 win over Austria, has been settled by a single goal.
Spain's defining strength through the tournament has been its defense: prior to conceding against Belgium, the team had gone six consecutive matches without allowing a goal, reportedly the longest such streak in World Cup history. That resilience will be tested by a French attack that has scored freely throughout the tournament.
The main team-news storyline for Spain centers on winger Lamine Yamal, who has dealt with recurring fitness issues since a hamstring injury in late April kept him out of Spain's early group games. Yamal has featured in the knockout rounds but has gone four straight matches without a goal or an assist, and there has been public debate over whether De la Fuente could freshen up his front line for the semifinal. No other significant injury concerns have been reported within the Spain squad heading into the France match.
Head-to-Head History and the Euro 2024 Rematch
France and Spain have never faced each other at a World Cup before this tournament, but their recent history is anything but unfamiliar. Spain beat France 2-1 in the semifinal of Euro 2024, a result that still stings for the French given how close that game was. Since 2006, the sides have met 11 times across all competitions, with Spain winning seven, France three, and one match drawn -- a head-to-head edge that gives Spain a psychological boost even against the tournament's most dominant team.
That Euro 2024 semifinal also doubled as an early flashpoint in what has become one of football's most compelling individual rivalries: Kylian Mbappé against Lamine Yamal, club-level adversaries in Ligue 1 and La Liga circles who will again share a pitch on the international stage, this time with a World Cup final berth at stake.
For fans catching up on the road to Dallas, our Day 30 recap of Spain's 2-1 win over Belgium covers Fabián Ruiz's opener and Merino's dramatic late winner in full detail.
Players to Watch
Mbappé remains the most obvious focal point given his tournament-leading goal tally and the lingering questions about his ankle, but Olise's creative output has arguably been just as vital to France's attack, and Dembélé's movement off the flank gives Deschamps another route to goal if Spain manage to contain the captain. For Spain, all eyes will be on whether Yamal can rediscover his sharpest form at the perfect moment, while Fabián Ruiz and Merino head into the semifinal in inspired form after their decisive quarterfinal contributions. Spain's back line, built around a historic clean-sheet run, faces its sternest test yet against a France side that has found different ways to score in every round.
Frequently Asked Questions
The semifinal kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mbappé suffered a minor ankle knock late in France's win over Morocco but downplayed the injury, saying he is "all good." He is reportedly expected to be available, though his fitness will continue to be monitored ahead of kickoff.
No. This semifinal is the first-ever World Cup meeting between the two nations, though Spain beat France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinal two years earlier.
The winner of France vs Spain advances to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, to face the winner of the tournament's other semifinal.