European champions Spain face World Cup favourites France in Dallas. A spot in the final is at stake when two of the tournament’s very best teams collide at AT&T Stadium on Tuesday night.
France is chasing its third straight World Cup final. Spain is dreaming of its first since the triumph in South Africa in 2010. Something has to give.
Didier Deschamps’ side topped Group I ahead of Senegal, Iraq and Norway, before beating Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco in the play-offs. The quarter-final against Morocco was tougher than the 2-0 result suggests, but goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé sent Les Bleus into the semi-finals.
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Mbappé leads the way with eight goals in the tournament – and is chasing the Golden Boot with great appetite. Behind him, Dembélé, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué have delivered the goods in attack.
But in the way are the reigning European champions. Spain have quietly built up to one of the tournament’s most impressive performances.
Spain’s defensive wall – zero goals in over 600 minutes
Luis de la Fuente’s team topped Group H, beat Austria in the round of 32, beat Portugal in the last eight and defeated Belgium in the quarter-finals. Only against Belgium did they concede their first goal of the tournament – after over 600 minutes without conceding.
Six straight games with a clean sheet. Five wins in six games. Only one goal against.
Defensively, they are by far the best team in the tournament. With their possession style, they have dictated matches against all opponents – even the best.
History also speaks for Spain. They beat France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and won an insane 5-4 draw in the 2025 Nations League final. France did win the last World Cup meeting – back in 2006.
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Team Innovations: Mbappé ready – Spain with midfield selection
France are expected to have Kylian Mbappé available despite a minor ankle injury against Morocco. Aurélien Tchouaméni is pushing to bounce back after missing the quarter-finals, while Manu Koné is also ready – he was taken off as a precaution.
Dembélé, Olise and Doué are all ready to continue in the roles behind Mbappé.
Spain have several options in midfield after Mikel Merino scored against Belgium from the bench. Rodri is still unbeatable, while Fabián Ruiz, Pedri and Dani Olmo are fighting for places next to him.
Lamine Yamal is expected to keep his place on the right wing despite a relatively quiet tournament – by his own high standards. Mikel Oyarzabal is likely to lead the attack again, while Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino are ready from the bench.
This is how the teams line up
France starting eleven (expected): Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne – Tchouaméni, Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Doué – Mbappé
Spain starting eleven (expected): Simón – Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella – Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Pedri – Yamal, Olmo, Oyarzabal
Where can you watch the match?
France – Spain starts at 20:00 on Tuesday evening. In Norway, TV 2 broadcasts the match live.
Key figures and statistics
- The teams have met 38 times in the past: Spain have won 18, France 13, and 7 games have ended in a draw.
- Last meeting 12 months ago: Spain won 5-4 in the Nations League semi-finals after a late French recovery.
- They have only met once in the World Cup – in 2006, when France won 3-1 in the last eight.
- Spain are unbeaten in their last 36 matches.
Our Prediction
This will be a fascinating match. Spain are likely to dominate the ball, while France are storming forward on the counter-attack with the pace of Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise.
It is impossible to point to a clear winner, but France have something extra in big games.
Our prediction: France 3-2 Spain
Close to two million Norwegians watched the World Cup drama in the middle of the night
