France vs Spain, act four: a blockbuster World Cup semi-final
Kick-off time, head-to-head history and key storylines: here's everything to know ahead of the 2026 World Cup semi-final between France and Spain on July 14.
France and Spain are set to meet in the 2026 World Cup semi-final on July 14 at 19:00 GMT, in a match loaded with history and recent rivalry between the two sides.
Both teams' road to the semi-final
France booked their spot with a 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, while Spain edged past Belgium 2-1 thanks to a late 88th-minute winner from Mikel Merino.
Head-to-head history: a recent Spanish edge
The two nations have met 36 times across all competitions, with Spain holding a slight overall edge (16 wins to France's 13, and 7 draws). More strikingly, La Roja have won the last three direct meetings:
- Euro 2024 semi-final: Spain won 2-1
- 2024 Nations League final: Spain won 2-1
- 2025 Nations League semi-final: Spain won 5-4
Key storylines ahead of the match
All eyes are on Kylian Mbappé's fitness after the knock he took on his ankle in the quarter-final, even though initial medical scans came back reassuring. The Golden Boot race between Mbappé and Lionel Messi (8 goals each) also remains in focus, as Spain go into this fixture full of confidence following their dramatic qualification.
The winner of this semi-final will face the winner of Norway/England vs Argentina/Switzerland in the final.
