World Cup 2026 pages
Sports · World Cup 2026 · Semi-final
Francevs
Spain
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 · 3:00 p.m. ET · Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX
Watch: FOX · Telemundo
My pick: France advance · locked 2026-07-11 08:12 UTCPrediction
France to reach the final. Deschamps' side are the only remaining perfect team — six wins from six — with Kylian Mbappé (eight goals, tied for the Golden Boot) and the outstanding Michael Olise (a tournament-high six assists) driving an attack that has scored in every game. Spain are a formidable obstacle: unbeaten, patient and hard to break down, and they beat this France at the same stage of Euro 2024. But France's transition threat and knockout pedigree — and greater depth if Mbappé is fully fit — tilt a very tight tie their way. France by a single goal; extra time would not surprise.
The case for France
44% to winFrance have looked the most complete side in the tournament: six wins from six, goals in every match, and a front line of Mbappé, Dembélé, Doué and Olise that can decide a game in one transition. Their spine — Maignan, Saliba, Rabiot — is settled and battle-tested, and Deschamps rarely loses a knockout tie when the attack is firing. If they start on the front foot and Mbappé is fit, Spain's patient build-up may not get the time and space it needs.
The case for Spain
30% to winSpain have not lost all tournament and only conceded their first goal in the quarter-final — the possession-and-press model of Rodri, Pedri and Lamine Yamal wears opponents down and smothers counters at source. They beat France 2-1 at this exact stage of Euro 2024, carry the tournament's meanest defence and have shown a knack for late winners. Keep the ball, deny France transitions, and de la Fuente's side can reach a first World Cup final since 2010.
Both cases written 2026-07-11, before kickoff — they freeze into the record exactly as written, however the match goes. The percentages are mine, quoted to a decimal because false precision is funnier — the unclaimed 26% belongs to the draw.
France 4-2-3-14-2-3-1 SpainAt this Stage
Two of the tournament's heavyweights, and a rematch with recent history. France arrive perfect — six wins from six, Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise carrying a front line that has scored in every match — having eased past Morocco 2-0 in the last eight. Spain arrive unbeaten too, the possession-and-pressure side that only conceded its first goal of the whole tournament in a nervy 2-1 win over Belgium, settled by a late Mikel Merino strike. They met at exactly this stage of Euro 2024, where Spain won 2-1 on the way to the title; now Mbappé and Lamine Yamal renew a club rivalry with a World Cup final at stake. The winner goes to New York/New Jersey for the final on 19 July; the loser drops to the third-place play-off. Control versus transition, under the Dallas roof — the pick of the semi-finals.
Quarter-final
Semi-final
Final
The briefing
Storylines
- A rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final, which Spain won 2-1 on their way to the title; club rivals Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal meet again, this time on the international stage.
- France are the only unbeaten, 100%-record side left — six wins from six — and Mbappé (eight goals) is tied with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot; Michael Olise leads the tournament with six assists.
- Spain conceded their first goal of the tournament in the quarter-final, ending Unai Simón's record scoreless run, but still found a late Mikel Merino winner to keep an unbeaten campaign alive.
- The winner reaches the World Cup final in New York/New Jersey on 19 July; the loser drops to the third-place play-off in Miami.
The coaches
Didier Deschamps France
The 2018 World Cup winner, in charge since 2012 and leaving after this tournament, has France unbeaten and set up to strike in transition through Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise.
Luis de la Fuente Spain
The reigning European champion coach plays patient, possession-based football built on Rodri and Pedri, with Lamine Yamal the spark; his Spain are unbeaten and were the tournament's meanest defence until the last eight.
Availability
| Kylian Mbappé | Substituted on 77 minutes of the quarter-final with an apparent injury; his fitness for the semi-final is being monitored, though he is tied for the Golden Boot on eight goals | ESPN / FOX Sports |
| Aurélien Tchouaméni | Did not start the quarter-final with an adductor/groin problem, with Manu Koné deputising; pushing to return to the midfield | ESPN team sheet / previews |
| Pedri | Rested for the quarter-final (came off the bench on 55 minutes) and expected to return to the starting midfield alongside Rodri | ESPN team sheet |
| Nico Williams | Managing a minor knock; came off the bench in the quarter-final and is in contention to start on the left | ESPN team sheet |
Availability drifts hourly in tournament week — every row carries its source and date for exactly that reason.
Watch: FOX in English (free over the air, or stream on Fox One) and Telemundo in Spanish (stream on Peacock or the Telemundo app). (FOX Sports / Telemundo World Cup semi-final TV schedule (10 Jul 2026), as of 2026-07-11)
Weather: AT&T Stadium in Arlington has a retractable roof, so playing conditions can be controlled regardless of the Texas summer heat outside. (Venue (retractable roof), as of 2026-07-11)
Venue: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX, United States — FIFA strips sponsor names for the tournament; the everyday name is in parentheses.