France and Spain clash in the World Cup semi-finals
Hosts discuss today’s highly anticipated FIFA World Cup semi-final clash between France and Spain in Dallas. Sports and entertainment reporter Mike Gunzelman analyzes the intense matchup, noting Spain’s strong defense against Kylian Mbappé. He also reflects on the huge success of the tournament and growing soccer fandom in the United States.
It’s been a few days without football and it felt a bit strange. I wonder how I will feel after this World Cup is over in a few days. We’re down to just four games left (including today’s matchup). It has been a really engaging and entertaining World Cup so far and I think FIFA must be very happy that it got the remaining four teams into the Final Four. Let’s see how we will play the first semi-final match of the 2026 World Cup.
There have been at least two players who have said that France are the team to beat or that they will win it all. As someone with a French ticket, I hope it works out. Getting to the final game will be quite a challenge. I don’t know a lot about soccer, but I can tell you that after watching these games, it seems that one little mistake can change the whole game. France have been lucky not to have made many mistakes so far. They have a strong defense, three good offensive players and more, so maybe their team is just good at covering any mistakes that are made.
Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
In their World Cup games, France has barely had to break a sweat. Their worst game was against Paraguay when they still won 1-0. In their last match they beat Morocco 2-0. Throughout this tournament, they have not allowed more than one goal in any game and have outscored their opponents 16-2. Their leader, Kylian Mbappe, and his counterpart, Ousmane Dembele, have combined to score 13 of those goals. The third person in their trio, Michael Olise, also has five assists.
HOW TO WATCH FRANCE VS SPAIN: LIVE STREAM FIFA WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 2026
It will be a tough game for Spain to win, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any pressure on France. Spain is one of the best teams in the world and they beat France last year in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. In that match, Spain won 5-4. Spain opened their World Cup with a draw against Cape Verde. At the time it looked like it was Spain who underperformed, but that Cape Verde team proved to be very talented and a tough matchup. To get out of the group stage, they beat Saudi Arabia with ease and then Uruguay in a close game.
France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal will square off in the World Cup semi-finals in Dallas to decide which country has a chance to lift the World Cup trophy on 19 July. (GETTY)
When they got to the knockout round, things were a little more difficult. They beat Austria 3-0 but struggled to beat Portugal and won 1-0. Then, against Belgium, that game was a closely contested 2-1 win. They never trailed in that game, but both teams scored in the first half. A very late Spanish goal gave them a lead that would never be relinquished. It was more a mistake on Belgium’s part than anything else that led to this goal for Spain. Mistakes cost people games in all sports.
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Many people are billing this as the championship match. I guess they don’t feel that much for Argentina or England. Maybe that’s true, but if you see two teams beat each other before they face another opponent, it can hurt them for the next game. The advantage for both teams is that they will have extra rest before the final.
France forward Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026. (CHARLY TRIBALEAU/AFP)
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I think Spain have been a bit luckier than France, but they have nothing to lose either. An interesting fact is that Spain come into this period unbeaten in their last 36 international competitions. Looks like they’re going to lose, right? As mentioned I have a ticket to France to win the WC already, if I didn’t I would still take them here. However, I will take the over 2.5 goals here. I think the final will be France 2-1 and I think they will win in 90 minutes.
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