France vs Spain Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Semi-Final
It's a repeat of the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final at FIFA World Cup 2026 as 2018 world champions and 2022 runners-up France face off against European champions Spain in Dallas.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
France preview: Impressive throughout the summer
With their star-studded squad, and especially their attack, France have eased themselves into the final four of a FIFA World Cup for the third successive tournament, without having to overcome too many difficulties or issues.
The group stage saw the French sweep aside Senegal, Iraq and Norway - winning all three games and scoring ten goals in the process. They then defeated Sweden by three goals to nil in the Round of 32.
Things have been a little trickier in the last couple of games with more obdurate and aggressive opponents. A Kylian Mbappe penalty eventually saw Les Bleus get past the hostile Paraguayans before two second-half goals, scored by Mbappe and then Ousmane Dembele, made amends for a first-half penalty miss from Mbappe to defeat Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Spain preview: Finding a way
At UEFA EURO 2024, Spain were by far and away the best footballing team at the tournament and they also enjoyed a famous run against historically tough opponents to clinch their fourth UEFA European Championship; defeating Germany, France and England by two goals to one in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and then final.
This summer has seen Spain stutter a bit more, continuing some issues from the spring and before the tournament in terms of a lack of efficiency in the final third but they have once again been able to find a way under Luis de la Fuente.
Having overcome Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group stage, following an opening-game goalless draw with Cabo Verde, Spain have since eased past Austria before hard-fought and late victories against Portugal and then Belgium in the knockout stages so far.
France team news: A few fresh doubts
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Centre-back pairing William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano both missed training at the weekend but there is an expectation that both will be fine for this one, with the former having previously dealt with a back injury earlier on in the tournament.
Aurelien Tchouameni has missed the last couple of games due to injury. His replacement, Manu Kone, is now an injury doubt for this one. It would be a surprise to see Kone not risked from the start with the next replacement being veteran defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante. Kylian Mbappe went off injured against Morocco but has described himself as ‘completely fine’.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Unavailable:
Questionable: Saliba (Injured), Upamecano (Injured), Tchouameni (Injured), Kone (Injured), Thuram (Fitness)
Spain team news: Alex Baena challenged by Nico Williams
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Spain have been dealing with injuries in attack throughout this tournament but both Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino have returned to full fitness. Alex Baena is expected to keep his spot on the left wing, with Victor Munoz remaining a doubt.
Surprisingly, Barcelona midfielder Pedri was dropped to the bench against Belgium with Fabian Ruiz coming in and, having scored, the Paris Saint-Germain man is expected to keep his spot alongside Rodri and in behind Dani Olmo in midfield.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Unavailable:
Questionable: Munoz (Fitness)
France’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ousmane Dembele ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Michael Olise ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 7 captain pick: Kylian Mbappe
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Kylian Mbappe
Free kicks: Michael Olise
Corners: Michael Olise
Spain’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Marc Cucurella ($5.1m) – Defender
Lamine Yamal ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Mikel Oyarzabal ($8.1m) – Forward
Matchday 7 captain pick: Mikel Oyarzabal
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Mikel Oyarzabal, Lamine Yamal, Rodri
Free kicks: Pedri, Lamine Yamal
Corners: Lamine Yamal, Pedri
Key stats
- This is only the second World Cup encounter between the teams after a 3-1 victory for France in the round of 16 at Germany 2006.
- Across 38 meetings, Spain hold an 18–13 edge over France, with seven draws. Spain have won seven of the last 10 encounters (D1 L2), including the most recent two: a 2-1 win in the EURO 2024 semi‑finals and a 5-4 victory in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League semi‑finals.
- France have won their last seven World Cup matches against European teams.
- France have won 15 of their last 17 international matches (D1 L1).
- Kylian Mbappé has found the net 11 times in his last seven matches at the FIFA World Cup and boasts 20 goals in 20 appearances at the competition overall.
- Kylian Mbappé has extended his record for goals scored in the knockout rounds at the FIFA World Cup to 12, four more than his nearest rivals, Brazilian duo Ronaldo and Leônidas (both with eight).
- Ousmane Dembélé is just the third French player to net five goals in a single edition of the tournament after Just Fontaine (13 in 1958) and Kylian Mbappé (eight in both 2022 and 2026).
- Spain are unbeaten in regular time in their last 36 matches (W27 D9) in a run stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Colombia in a friendly in London on 22 March 2024. This is now their longest-ever unbeaten sequence, surpassing their previous record of 35, which they achieved between 2007 and 2009.
- Spain have reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the second time. The last time they did so was in 2010, when they defeated Germany 1-0 and went on to lift the trophy. *In 1950, they finished fourth in a final round group.
- Spain have won their last five World Cup matches and are one victory away from equalling their best winning streak in the competition which they achieved in 2010.
- Spain have conceded only one goal in their six matches at the 2026 finals.
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France vs Spain prediction
About a year ago, France and Spain played out a thrilling UEFA Nations League semi-final in Germany with the Spanish running out 5-4 winners in a frankly remarkable game.
Spain don’t appear capable of playing as aggressively on the front foot as they did throughout 2025, with the French also now boasting a more refined and in-form attack so La Roja will also be intent on likely limiting that, rather than going blow for blow with the French.
Spain may be the best team to test a French midfield that has not yet been overly threatened, despite it being an area of the squad that would appear to be the weakest part of their team.
The form suggests France will overcome Spain and set themselves up for a third successive FIFA World Cup final but Spain will present a tough match, with La Roja the best team in possession that France have faced. Both teams scoring seems a decent bet but backing France remains the way to go.
France vs Spain betting tip: France to win & both teams to score
