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France and Spain meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final on Tuesday 14 July 2026 at 3:00 PM ET from Dallas Stadium.
France have been dominant at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, posting a perfect 6W-0D-0L through six matches and sitting one win away from becoming just the second team ever to record seven straight wins at the tournament, joining Brazil’s 2002 team (France itself went 7W-0D-0L in 1998 when it also advanced to the semi-finals in Italy). Kylian Mbappé has been the driving force, scoring eight goals in six games in the tournament (tied with Messi for the Golden Boot) to become the first player to score at least eight goals in back-to-back World Cups and the only player with 20 goals in 20 tournament games. In his first World Cup, Michael Olise has matched that standard from midfield with six assists in the tournament in six games, one shy of equaling Pelé’s all-time record for assists in a single tournament.
Spain’s results have not been as indisputable as France’s through six games at the tournament, but it has consistently found a way through, with every win except a 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia in the group stage and a 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 16 decided by a single goal, two of them after the 85th minute and the latest coming in stoppage time. The real story has been their defense. Spain’s 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday ended a six-match streak without allowing a goal, the longest run in World Cup history, and goalkeeper Unai Simón’s 649 consecutive scoreless minutes broke the tournament record of 622 set by Germany’s Nadine Angerer.
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How to watch France vs. Spain
France vs Spain preview
France’s transition attack against Spain’s possession game is the key game.
France have looked like the tournament’s most ruthless counter-attack. By 6 matches, it has scored 16 goals and Kylian Mbappé has 8 of them, while he has also scored in every knockout match France has played. France doesn’t need long stretches of control to hurt you. One loose touch, one broken resting defensive shape and Mbappé can turn the pitch into open grass.
Spain will have plenty of the ball, making this such a direct tactical contest. Spain have an average of 66 minutes of possession per game. game and has completed 92% of his passes, so it can knock teams back and force them to defend for long periods. But if that control doesn’t turn into clear chances, it plays right into France’s preferred script, especially with Spain still searching for the full version of Lamine Yamal and leaning on late goals to get through close knockout games.
Watch the first few Spanish attacks after a turnover. If France breaks into space immediately, it could spell trouble for Spain.
Key players
There are only two players in World Cup history who have scored 20 goals at the FIFA World Cup: Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. If Mbappé scores against Spain, he will move closer to eclipsing Messi for the all-time World Cup goalscoring record, which currently stands at 21.
However, Mbappé is almost certain to break the all-time record – if not this World Cup, then the next. The accolade he is not guaranteed to be within striking distance of again is the elusive World Cup title. Pelé is the only player to ever win two World Cup titles before turning 27; if Mbappé can take down Spain, he has a good chance of being second.
Lamine Yamal has left a lot to be desired in his first world championship. After scoring a goal in Spain’s 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage, Yamal has not registered a single assist in the tournament, a stark contrast to his performances at Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
The good news? Yamal has looked better with every game he has played since returning from injury in the group stage. If Yamal can find his magic when he meets a familiar face in Mbappé, Spain will be favorites for that game and beyond.
France vs Spain Odds
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