Two Unbeaten Giants Meet in Dallas
France and Spain arrive at their World Cup semifinal without having trailed at any point in the tournament. One of them will see that run end on Tuesday, when Kylian Mbappé’s France face a Spain side led by Lamine Yamal’s talent and Mikel Merino’s late-game heroics.
A Rare World Cup Meeting
Both national teams are playing in their 17th World Cup, but they have met only once before on football’s biggest stage. Their latest encounter will take place at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, in the first of two major semifinal matches.
France Arrive With Powerful Numbers
France entered the tournament as FIFA’s top-ranked team and has backed up that status with dominant performances. Les Bleus have outscored opponents 14-2, with Mbappé again central to their attacking power.
Mbappé Chases World Cup History
Mbappé, winner of the 2022 Golden Boot, has scored eight goals at this World Cup, matching Lionel Messi for the tournament lead. He is also just one goal behind Messi’s career World Cup record of 21.
Twenty Goals in Twenty Matches
At 27, Mbappé has already scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances. His tournament legacy began early, including his goal in the 2018 final against Croatia, when he joined Pele as one of the only teenagers to score in a World Cup final.
France Keep Their Confidence Measured
France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said the team remains confident after its run so far, but also stressed the importance of humility. Mbappé has also indicated he is fine after leaving the quarterfinal win over Morocco in the 77th minute, having already scored in the 2-0 victory.
Yamal Brings History Against France
Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, already has positive memories against France. He was days away from his 17th birthday when he scored in Spain’s 2-1 win over France in the 2024 European Championship semifinals, before Spain later beat France 5-4 in Nations League play.
Yamal Sends a Confident Message
After Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium, Yamal said France should be wary of Spain because La Roja had already knocked them out before. His comments reflected the confidence of a player who has quickly become one of the tournament’s most watched figures.
Barcelona Link Adds Another Layer
France defender Jules Koundé, who plays with Yamal at Barcelona, said he did not view the teenager’s comments as disrespectful. He described them as a sign of confidence and said Yamal often shows the same belief with his club.
Yamal Still Building Into the Tournament
Yamal has scored once and put 10 shots on target during the World Cup. He entered the tournament after dealing with a left hamstring issue that forced him to miss the final weeks of Barcelona’s season, but he has still played a key role in Spain’s attack.
Spain Improve After Slow Start
Spain began the tournament with a surprising scoreless draw against Cape Verde, but has since outscored opponents 10-1. Midfielder Alex Baena said the team needed time to recover rhythm after a long spell apart, and that performances improved with each match and training session.
Unai Simón Sets a Record
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón set a World Cup record by going 650 minutes without conceding a goal. That run finally ended in the quarterfinal against Belgium, when Spain allowed its first goal of the tournament in the 41st minute.
Merino Becomes Spain’s Late Hero
Mikel Merino has become Spain’s decisive substitute in the knockout stage. He scored in the 88th minute to give Spain a 2-1 win over Belgium, just days after scoring in the first minute of second-half stoppage time to beat Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16.
A Semifinal of Former Champions
This is the first World Cup since 1990 in which all four semifinalists are former champions. Defending champion Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will face England in the other semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta.
Final and Third-Place Match Set
The World Cup final will be played Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City. The third-place match is scheduled for Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
France Won Their Only World Cup Meeting
France and Spain’s only previous World Cup match came in 2006, when France beat Spain 3-1 in the round of 16 in Germany. Since that meeting, both countries have lifted the trophy: Spain in 2010 and France in 2018.
France Aim for a Third Straight Final
France, playing on Bastille Day, is trying to reach a third consecutive World Cup final. Only Brazil and Germany have previously achieved that feat. Brazil did so in 1994, 1998 and 2002, while Germany reached three straight finals from 1982 to 1990 while competing as West Germany.
Recent Final Pain for Les Bleus
France came close to back-to-back titles in 2022, but lost the final to Argentina on penalties after a 3-3 draw. This year marks France’s seventh World Cup semifinal appearance and its fifth in the last eight editions.
Spain Seek Another Historic Run
Spain’s semifinal history is much shorter. La Roja reached this stage in 1950 and again in 2010, when it went on to win its first and only World Cup. A victory over France would put Spain within one match of a second title.
Dallas Hosts Another Star-Heavy Night
AT&T Stadium in North Texas will host its ninth match of the tournament, more than any other venue. The stadium, already known for major American football and basketball events, has delivered several standout football moments during the World Cup.
Messi and Ronaldo Already Left Their Mark
Messi scored three goals in two group matches at the venue, including a record-breaking performance against Austria on June 22 after missing a penalty. Cristiano Ronaldo also played his final World Cup match there, as Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the round of 16 on July 6.
A Place in the Final at Stake
France bring the tournament’s most prolific scorer and a recent history of deep World Cup runs. Spain bring an improving team, a teenage star and a substitute who keeps delivering at the most dramatic moments. Only one can carry an unbeaten path into Sunday’s final.
