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Who: France vs Spain
What: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Semifinal 1
The place: Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the US
When: Tuesday at 2pm (19:00 GMT)
Easy methods to comply with: We could have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT earlier than our stay textual content commentary stream.
Advisable Tales
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Seize your popcorn, crack open a chilly one – it’s time for the World Cup semifinals.
Two-time world champions France – frontrunners so as to add one other one to their tally – face European champions Spain within the largest match to date of the 2026 World Cup.
Historical past is inside touching distance for Les Bleus, who can change into solely the second European nation to play three successive World Cup finals after West Germany.
However standing in France’s method is a slick and durable Spain, the acquainted foes with whom they share a storied rivalry.
Tuesday’s opening last 4 fixture shall be a conflict of kinds: France’s fiery, irrepressible attacking going up in opposition to Spain’s managed, cautious recreation.
Right here’s all you have to know concerning the first semifinal:
How did France and Spain attain the semifinals?
France topped Group I with an ideal document of 9 factors, profitable in opposition to Norway, Senegal and Iraq. They thrashed Sweden 3-0 within the spherical of 32 earlier than beating a stubborn Paraguay side 1-0 within the final 16 and crusing into the semifinals with a dominant 2-0 win over Morocco.
Spain topped Group H with seven factors, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and drawing with Cape Verde. They started their knockout marketing campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Austria within the spherical of 32 earlier than beating Portugal 1-0 with a late objective in an Iberian soccer derby within the spherical of 16.
Their path to the semifinals was confirmed with a late 2-1 win over Belgium.
‘This France group has not achieved something but’: Mbappe
France’s enviable attacking unit has delivered like no different within the event.
The dazzling Kylian Mbappe has scored eight objectives in 5 video games, making him the present chief within the race for the Golden Boot, whereas Ousmane Dembele has bagged 5 objectives. Bradley Barcola has additionally chipped in two, and Michael Olise is their finest playmaker with 5 assists.
These figures have prompted comparisons with the greats of the previous, however regardless of their extremely spectacular World Cup marketing campaign their captain Mbappe stated the present crop of gamers haven’t but reached the essential level of their title journey.
“I used to be a champion [in 2018] and a World Cup runner-up [in 2022], and this group has not achieved something but,” stated Mbappe, who has 20 objectives from 20 appearances in three World Cup tournaments, with 4 of these objectives coming within the finals.
“It’s, nonetheless, the one who has the most important potential. There are such a lot of qualities on this squad; it lets you dream.”
France have reached 4 of the final seven World Cup finals, lifting the trophy in 1998 and 2018, and shedding in 2006 and 2022.
In the event that they beat Spain, France will maintain comparisons with West Germany, arguably the final word event nation, with 4 finals between 1974 and 1990.
‘This can be a last earlier than the ultimate’: Spain coach
In contrast to France, who’re a extremely attacking aspect, Spain have opted for a managed method. La Roja’s tight defence has conceded simply as soon as – in opposition to Belgium within the quarterfinals – whereas Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo hardly ever cede management in midfield.
Quickly after Spain secured their spot within the semifinals, coach Luis de la Fuente emphasised the significance of their upcoming conflict with France, including that his FIFA world-ranked quantity three aspect is able to beating any group.
“It’s not an exaggeration to explain this match as a last earlier than the ultimate,” he stated.
“We’re one of many groups able to reaching the ultimate. Any more, we’re absolutely centered on France.”
“We’re conscious of their immense potential, however we additionally know that we’re the one group to have crushed them in two semifinals,” he added.
Certainly, Spain defeated France within the Euro 2024 semifinals on their method to changing into European champions, and within the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals.
France vs Spain prediction
Opta’s supercomputer offers France a 42.1 p.c likelihood of profitable in regulation time, whereas Spain’s possibilities of profitable are 31.8 p.c.
The mannequin estimates a 26.1 p.c likelihood of the sport going to further time.
Who will the winner face within the last?
The winner of the France vs Spain semifinal will face both England or Argentina in Sunday’s last in New Jersey.
France vs Spain: Head-to-head
France and Spain are acquainted foes, having confronted one another 38 instances thus far.
Spain maintain the higher hand of their head-to-head document, having gained 18 matches. France have gained 13 instances, whereas seven matches led to a draw.
Their final assembly was the Nations League semifinal performed in Germany a couple of 12 months in the past, when Spain thrashed France 5-4 in an exhilarating contest with Yamal’s brace sending them by way of.
France vs Spain: Final 5 matches
- Spain 5-4 France (UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinals)
- Spain 2-1 France (Euro 2024 semifinals)
- Spain 1-2 France (UEFA Nations League 2021 last)
- France 0-2 Spain (worldwide pleasant, 2017)
- France 1-0 Spain (worldwide pleasant, 2014)
France vs Spain: The place to look at, kickoff time
- France: beIN Sports activities, M6, M6+ (9pm, Central European Summer time Time)
- Spain: DAZN Mundial (9pm, Central European Summer time Time)
- United Kingdom: TBA (8pm, British Summer time Time)
- USA: Fox, Fox One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Community, Peacock (3pm, Jap Daylight Time)
To examine the TV listings in your nation, head to FIFA’s TV itemizing schedule here.
France vs Spain: Workforce information
France’s midfielders Kone (bodily discomfort) and Tchouameni (groin) are uncertain, whereas defenders Upamecano and Saliba (again damage) didn’t participate in Saturday’s coaching session.
No accidents have been reported within the Spain camp.
France’s predicted lineup
(4-2-3-1): Maignan (goalkeeper); Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Spain’s predicted lineup
(4-2-3-1): Simon (goalkeeper); Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
