Why doesn’t Pedri start Spain against France in the 2026 World Cup?
The stage is set in Arlington for an absolute blockbuster 2026 World Cup semi final between Spain and France, but La Roja will be kicking things off without one of their brightest stars. Pedri was officially appointed to the bench, and the fans are frantic and wondering why the brilliant Barcelona player is not in the starting line-up.
The semi-finals come together the tournament’s most prolific attack and one of its toughest defensesand France came after scoring 16 goals in six games while Spain has only scored once in the competition. The winner will advance to the 2026 World Cup Final, making every tactical decision even more important.
Les Bleus go into the match in excellent form after winning all six of their matches, driven by an attack led by. Kylian Mbappe, who has scored eight goals in the competition. Didier Deschamps’ side also benefit from the formation of Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, giving Les Bleus one of the deepest attacking units in international football.
On the other hand, La Roja is approaching the competition from a different angle. Luis de la Fuente’s side relied on good defending, patience and Rodri’s influence in midfield.while Lamine Yamal continues to provide creativity from the wing as La Roja chase another World Cup finals appearance.
| The day | Competition | H2H result |
|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2025 | UEFA Nations League Semifinal | Spain 5-4 France |
| July 9, 2024 | UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final | Spain 2-1 France |
| October 10, 2021 | UEFA Nations League Final | France 2-1 Spain |
| March 28, 2017 | International Friendly | France 0-2 Spain |
| September 4, 2014 | International Friendly | France 1-0 Spain |
Why doesn’t Pedri start against France
The biggest surprise from the Spanish list is Pedri starts off the bench for the second straight playoff gamebut the decision is based on tactical considerations rather than injuries.
According to De la Fuente, Spain is asking something different from the Barcelona midfielder than his team. “Pedri can’t play for us the way he plays at Barca. Our way of playing is different. We may have some similarities, but it’s different,” the Spanish manager explained El Larguero before.
Pedri from Spain celebrates after scoring a goal
The coach expanded on that idea by explaining that the national team needs different qualities depending on the opponent and the structure of the field around Rodri. “Playing for Spain requires something different,” De la Fuente said, adding that the national team “he has a different style of football” more than Barcelona.
Fabian Ruiz got another chance
Fabian Ruiz’s impressive display against Belgium played a key role in Spain’s selection. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder replaced Pedri in the quarter-final, scored the first goal in a 2-1 victory, and convinced the coaching staff to keep faith with the same midfield combination.
Rather than making changes before one of the tournament’s biggest games, Spain chose to continueI hope the trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo carried the team successfully in the previous round.
De la Fuente also admitted that he sees value in both midfielders. “Each one has his own strength. Each player gives what we need… But they can also play both together. So if I have that doubt, we will put both of them in, and the problem is solved,” he joked with a smile before the game. Source: Spanish press conference before the match.
Pedri’s World Cup does not have the usual impact
Pedri has handled the game well, but has yet to produce as many attacking contributions as expected. Entering the semi-finals, he did not register a goal or an assist, despite being one of Spain’s most technically gifted players.
La Roja’s coaching staff believes that Fabian Ruiz currently offers great guidance in the penalty area, especially against a French team that can punish mistakes with devastating counterattacks. That tactical choice overtook Pedri’s brilliance in this matchup.
At the same time, Spain’s exceptional midfield depth gives De la Fuente plenty of options. Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, and Pedri all offer different qualities, allowing the manager to adjust his system according to the opponent.
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