France vs Spain: World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Preview and Lineups

France and Spain Set for a Clash at AT&T Stadium

The 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final between France and Spain takes place Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. France aims to join an elite group by reaching three consecutive World Cup finals. Having won all six of their matches within regular time, Les Bleus enter as favorites.

In their quarter-final, France beat Morocco 2-0, with Ousmane Dembele and tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe both finding the net. Spain, meanwhile, secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Belgium thanks to an 88th-minute winner from substitute Mikel Merino. Luis de la Fuente’s squad stands just one match away from their first final since 2010.

France’s Dominant Run

Under Didier Deschamps, France have been dominant throughout this World Cup. They won all three group stage matches with a combined score of 10-2 and have kept clean sheets in every knockout game so far, except the opener against Paraguay where they scored just once. Their attack has been prolific, scoring 16 goals, half of them by Mbappe.

Despite this, France face a tough challenge given their recent record against Spain. In the last ten meetings, France lost eight times, emphasizing the difficulty ahead. Deschamps will also mark a personal milestone, managing his 26th World Cup match, making him the most experienced coach in tournament history.

Spain’s Resurgence

Spain struggled to make an impact after their 2010 triumph, failing to win any knockout matches until this year’s 3-0 win over Austria in the round of 32. De la Fuente has revived the team’s fortunes, building on his success at the 2024 European Championship. His approach balances attacking talent with a strong defense that has conceded only once in six games so far.

La Furia Roja have not lost in regulation time across 36 internationals and will test France's offense fiercely. This semi-final is only Spain's second since 2010, but they bring encouraging stats, having advanced from six of their last seven semi-finals in major tournaments. Attention will focus on Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who holds the potential to change the match despite not yet hitting top form in North America.

Team News and Expected Line-ups

Mbappe left the Morocco match early with concerns but is expected to start. Spain’s squad is fully fit, including Pedri, who showed signs of fatigue late in their last game.

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.

Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.

Prediction

Spain are close to matching Argentina’s record for unbeaten games in regulation, but France seem unstoppable right now. While the match won’t be easy, France’s depth and quality across the field give them the edge to reach another World Cup final.