France and Spain meet in one of the biggest matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as two European giants battle for a place in Sunday’s final.
Didier Deschamps’ side arrive after eliminating Morocco, while Spain continued their outstanding tournament by edging past Belgium. With Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise facing the creative brilliance of Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal, fans can expect a tactical masterpiece between two of the tournament’s strongest teams.
Match Details
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
| Match | France vs Spain |
| Stage | Semi-final |
| Venue | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Date | July 13, 2026 |
France Recent Form
France have looked every bit like title contenders throughout the tournament.
Les Bleus topped their group with a perfect record before eliminating Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco in the knockout rounds. Didier Deschamps’ side have combined defensive discipline with attacking quality, scoring freely while conceding very few chances.
Kylian Mbappé continues to lead the Golden Boot race, while Ousmane Dembélé has produced several decisive performances in the final third.
France World Cup Form
🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W
France Form (All Competitions)
🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W
Spain Recent Form
Spain have once again shown why they are considered one of the world’s best possession-based teams.
Luis de la Fuente’s men have lost just once in their last 27 major tournament matches and continue to dominate opponents through intelligent passing and midfield control. Their latest victory over Belgium required another late intervention from Mikel Merino, whose impact from the bench has been remarkable.
Although Lamine Yamal has yet to reach his explosive Euro 2024 level, Spain remain one of the most balanced teams left in the competition.
Spain World Cup Form
🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W
Spain Form (All Competitions)
🟩 W 🟨 D 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W 🟩 W
Team News
France are expected to have Kylian Mbappé available despite a minor ankle concern suffered against Morocco. Manu Koné is also likely to be fit after precautionary treatment, while Aurélien Tchouaméni continues to push for a return.
Spain have no major injury problems. Mikel Merino is hoping to earn his first start after scoring decisive goals in consecutive knockout matches, while Pedri also remains in contention. Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino are both available after recovering from recent fitness issues.
Probable Lineups
France Predicted XI
Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé.
Spain Predicted XI
Unai Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Players to Watch
France: Kylian Mbappé
With eight World Cup goals already, Mbappé remains France’s biggest attacking threat. His pace and movement behind Spain’s high defensive line could decide the match.
Spain: Rodri
The Manchester City midfielder will be responsible for controlling possession and dictating the tempo. If Rodri dominates midfield, Spain’s chances of reaching the final increase significantly.
Key Battle
Kylian Mbappé vs Pedro Porro
Spain’s adventurous right-back loves to attack, but leaving space behind him against Mbappé could prove extremely dangerous. Whoever wins this duel may heavily influence the outcome of the semi-final.
Tactical Analysis
France will likely remain compact before attacking quickly through Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise. Their pace on the counterattack could expose Spain whenever they commit numbers forward.
Spain are expected to dominate possession through Rodri, Dani Olmo and Fabián Ruiz while attempting to stretch France’s defence with Lamine Yamal’s creativity on the right wing.
The midfield battle between Rodri and Adrien Rabiot, together with Mbappé’s threat in transition, could ultimately define the game.
Head-to-Head
- Spain have won seven of the last ten meetings.
- Spain defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final.
- Spain also beat France 5-4 in the 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals.
- France’s last World Cup victory over Spain came in 2006.
FootyFeed Prediction
This has all the ingredients to become one of the best matches of the tournament.
Spain may control possession for long periods, but France possess the speed and individual quality to punish even the smallest defensive mistake. With Mbappé in sensational form and Dembélé creating chances consistently, Les Bleus have the firepower to edge an incredibly close contest.
Predicted Score
France 2-1 Spain
Predicted Result
✅ France Win
Final Verdict
Expect an intense tactical battle between two of Europe’s elite national teams. Spain’s passing game should create long spells of control, but France’s pace in transition and clinical finishing could prove decisive.
With Mbappé leading the attack and Deschamps’ experience in major tournaments, Les Bleus are backed to secure a narrow victory and book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.
🔥 FootyFeed Prediction
France 2-1 Spain
