The Heavyweight Clash: World Cup Semi-Final France Vs Spain
World Cup Semi-Final Preview: France vs Spain At AT&T Stadium
The stage is set. France vs Spain kicks off today in the FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals at AT&T Stadium, and it has all the ingredients of a classic.
Les Bleus are the team to beat. 2018 champions, they’ve been perfect in 2026. 3 wins from 3 in Group I, then 3 straight knockout wins without conceding a single goal: 3-0 vs Sweden, 1-0 vs Paraguay, 2-0 vs Morocco.
This is France’s 3rd semi-final in a row. Didier Deschamps also breaks his own record with a 26th World Cup game in charge. Reach the final again and France join Brazil, Germany, and Italy as the only nations to make 3 straight World Cup finals.
It’s also personal. Four years after losing the 2022 final on penalties, this is a chance for revenge.
La Roja stumbled out of the blocks with a 0-0 vs Cape Verde, but have been unstoppable since. They won Group H, then knocked out Austria 3-0, Portugal 1-0, and Belgium 2-1. Mikel Merino has been the clutch man with late winners in the last two rounds.
Spain haven’t lost in 90 minutes in 36 games dating back to March 2024. One more and they match Italy’s all-time record of 37.
Luis de la Fuente is also in record form: 12 wins, 1 draw across Euros and World Cups. This is only Spain’s 2nd World Cup semi since they won it in 2010, but they’ve reached 6 of their last 7 major semi-finals.
Head-to-Head
Spain edge the history: 18 wins to 13, with 7 draws in 38 games. And they’ve owned the big games lately — 7 wins in the last 10, including a 2-1 Euro 2024 semi and a wild 5-4 Nations League final win in 2025.
Didier Deschamps is playing it down:
“I can confirm Spain are the favorites.”
“They know how to attack and defend very well, conceding only one goal in seven matches. It could be a spectacular game.”
On Mbappé: `”Kylian is 100% ready and fit.”
Luis de la Fuente is talking war and belief:
“Football is simple. You have to impose your style and stop the other team from playing theirs.”
“France are much better now than when we last faced them. Mbappé is better, Dembélé is better… as a team, they are better. We have also improved.”
“Julius Caesar always said that you can’t win without suffering. We’re ready to go to war tomorrow.”
On Yamal: “Lamine’s big game at the World Cup has not come yet. Let’s hope that he has it tomorrow, or otherwise in the final.”
“One thing I can assure you: We will give everything to reach the World Cup final.”
Lamine Yamal is embracing the moment:
“This is the most important match I have ever played in my career so far, no doubt. I’m ready to face the challenge.”
“Everyone is saying that I’m not at my best level… I already know that today will be a special day.”
On pressure: “At the end of the day, football is just a match. If you don’t win, it’s just a game. You will have more chances to try and win again.”
On France’s attack: “From Mbappé, I’ll take his great ability to score goals. From Dembélé, his speed and both feet. Olise is the player most similar to me in how he builds and creates plays.”
“Of course we see ourselves as World champions, just like we did in 2010. Why not?”
https://shorturl.fm/tOjmO