France and Spain will meet in Dallas on Monday, July 13, 2026, with a place in the World Cup final on the line. The matchup brings together two teams that have reached the semifinal without trailing at all in this year’s tournament.
France arrived there by defeating Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston. Spain followed on Friday, July 10, 2026, by beating Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles.
What the matchup says about both teams
The shared stat is the most striking part of this semifinal: both France and Spain have stayed in control throughout the tournament. Neither side has trailed, which means one team will leave Dallas having extended that run into the final, while the other will see it end one step short.
That context adds weight to an already high-stakes meeting. France and Spain have not only survived the knockout rounds, they have done so without ever having to chase a game. Now they face each other in a semifinal soccer match that will test which team can maintain that level of control against the best opponent it has seen so far.
Mbappé back in training
Kylian Mbappé participated in a training session ahead of France’s semifinal against Spain, a notable update as the team prepares for one of the biggest matches of the tournament. France’s buildup, like Spain’s, has now shifted from the quarterfinal win to the final step before the title match.
For both teams, the path is straightforward now. Dallas will decide which side keeps its perfect in-game state record alive and moves on to the World Cup final.
