The first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup 2026 pits Spain against France, the two highest-ranked teams in Europe and fierce rivals on the global stage. This highly anticipated matchup, set for Tuesday in Dallas, brings together two of football's brightest stars: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Prediction: Who Will Win?
According to Opta's supercomputer, France enters as the favorite with a 42.1% chance of winning in regulation time. Spain's probability of victory stands at 31.8%, while there is a 26.1% chance the match will go to extra time.
Venue
The game will be played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which has a capacity of 70,649 for the tournament. This will be the final match hosted at this venue, which has seen nine match days—a record for the 2026 World Cup.
Head-to-Head
France and Spain have met 38 times, with Spain leading the series with 18 wins to France's 13, along with seven draws. Their most recent encounter was in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals, where Spain prevailed 5-4, thanks in part to a brace from Yamal.
Last 5 Matches
- Spain 5-4 France (UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinals)
- Spain 2-1 France (UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals)
- Spain 1-2 France (UEFA Nations League 2021 final)
- France 0-2 Spain (International friendly, 2017)
- France 1-0 Spain (International friendly, 2014)
World Cup History
The two sides have met only once in World Cup history, during the 2006 round of 16, where France defeated Spain 3-1, with goals from Franck Ribery, Patrick Vieira, and Zinedine Zidane.
European Championship Meetings
Spain and France have clashed five times at the Euros, with each team winning twice and one draw. Their last Euro meeting was in the 2024 semifinals, where Spain won 2-1, with Yamal and Dani Olmo scoring.
Trophy Cabinet
- World Cups: France (1998, 2018), Spain (2010)
- Euros: France (1984, 2000), Spain (1964, 2008, 2012, 2024)
- Olympic Golds: France (1984), Spain (1992, 2024)
France's Key Players
Kylian Mbappe leads the tournament in goals with eight, adding three assists. Ousmane Dembele (five goals) and Michael Olise (five assists) have also been instrumental.
Spain's Key Players
Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain's top scorer with four goals. Mikel Moreno (two goals) and Marc Cucurella (two assists) have contributed, while Yamal has one goal so far.
France: Strengths and Weaknesses
France's attack, featuring Bradley Barcola, Dembele, Olise, and Mbappe, is among the tournament's most potent. However, defensive lapses in the group stage—conceding against Senegal and Norway—were a concern, though they have kept clean sheets in all three knockout matches.
Spain: Strengths and Weaknesses
Spain's defense has been rock-solid, conceding just one goal in five games—a quarterfinal strike by Belgium. Offensively, the team has struggled for creativity and often relied on late goals from substitutes, such as Merino, to win knockout ties. Yamal, battling injury, has yet to hit top form.
What If the Match Ends in a Draw?
If the score is level after 90 minutes, the match will go into 30 minutes of extra time. If still tied, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout.