Preview: France vs Spain – prediction, team news, fixtures | 2026 World Cup

As they prepare for their third consecutive World Cup semi-final, two-time champions France must defeat European champions Spain to reach this year’s decider.

The familiar pair meet again on Tuesday, and whichever side wins their match in Dallas will advance to the final, where either England or Argentina await.

Game preview

Long established near the top of international football’s food list, France are aiming to become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, following traditional giants Germany and Brazil.

So far this summer, six successive victories have seen Les Bleus top Group I, knocking out Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, while scoring 16 goals.

After sweeping the Swedes aside, they survived the ‘dark arts’ of La Albirroja in the next round of eliminations, the last time out. faced a strong Moroccan team in Boston.

France may have missed a number of chances – most notably Kylian Mbappe’s first-half penalty – but their captain then scored a stunning goal before setting up Ousmane Dembele to put the quarter-final tie beyond doubt.

A strong four-man pairing, along with Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola or Desire Doue, proved they are capable of unlocking stubborn defenses.

Usually a cautious coach, Didier Deschamps is loosening the reins a bit in his final tournament as the curtain soon comes to an incredible 14-year spell.

As well as captaining the 1998 side that lifted the domestic trophy, Deschamps is about to take charge of his 26th World Cup, surpassing Helmut Schon’s long-standing record.

In a way, history will be on his side on this Bastille Day, as France have advanced to all four World Cup semi-finals, winning the last three without conceding a goal.

Furthermore, Les Bleus beat Spain in their only previous meeting in FIFA’s top competition, claiming a 3-1 victory in the last 20 years.

Still, Spain fans would want the latest example in their team’s favour, having won seven of their last ten games against France.

The latter two stand out: 2-1 in the semis of Euro 2024, which they went on to win, and 5-4 in last year’s UEFA Nations League final.

Mbappe scored from the spot in the nine-goal game, but Lamine Yamal bagged a brace and Mikel Merino was also on target as La Roja saw off their neighbours.

One year later, Merino became the first man in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two qualifying matches, setting up a great rivalry with France.

As overtime comes, super-sub he came off the bench and beat Belgium with a late strike in Friday’s quarter-final, after Unai Simon’s run of six World Cup clean sheets was finally halted.

Earlier, Luis de la Fuente’s men topped Group H and got past Austria in the first round of the playoffs, before that. more Merino magic dumped Iberian rivals Portugal in the last 16.

European champions Spain are now preparing for their second World Cup semi-final – and their first since arriving in South Africa 16 years ago.

Their latest record if it really matters is pretty good. Since the start of Russia 2018, they have lost just one game in 27 major tournaments, going unbeaten in the last 14 while keeping nine points.

An unheard of youth coach in the past few years, De La Fuente has won 12 of 13 so far, making this meeting with the highly decorated Deschamps all the more appealing.

France’s World Cup form:

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Spain’s World Cup form:

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Team News

© Imago / Uk Sports Pics Ltd

However Mbappe was sent off in the second half of the French quarter-finalhe should recover from a sprained ankle in time to start on Tuesday.

Manu Kone was also withdrawn due to a knee problem, but that was thought to be a precautionary measure, so the Roma midfielder could battle Aurelien Tchouameni for selection if the latter completes his return from a thigh injury.

Of the eight goals, Golden Boot contender Mbappe they will also link up with Ballon D’Or winner Dembele – the pair have created 19 chances for each other so far this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Doue or Barcola join them and Olise in the French’s third final – while Spain’s attack is also unclear.

Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four goals in this World Cup and should be up front, but Ferran Torres and the in-form Nico Williams and Jeremy Pino all want to be promoted from the bench.

Currently, midfielders Merino and Pedri are also strong suspects to startleaving Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo looking over their shoulders.

Yamal has yet to replicate his impressive Euro 2024 form, but the youngster is La Roja’s right-back, linking up with Pedro Porro, who appears to have won his selection competition with Marcos Llorente.

France is likely to start the program:

Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe

Spain is likely to start the program:

Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal

We say: France 1-1 Spain (after extra time; France won by penalties)

Apart from penalties, Spain are unbeaten in 36 games – one short of the all-time record set by Argentina between 2019 and 2022 – but spot-kicks could prove their downfall once again.

While they may dominate the ball and dominate France’s strong attack, La Roja lost last year’s Nations League on penalties and have only one win in five World Cups.

Therefore, as absolute favorites in the Sports Mole’s guide to the best betting sites for the World CupLes Bleus are headed for another final.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.