Spain and France Prepare for 2026 World Cup Semifinal Clash in Dallas

The 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between Spain and France takes place tonight in Dallas, Texas, with the winner advancing to the final in New York on July 19. The match features a high-profile duel between France's Kylian Mbappe, the tournament's top scorer, and Spain's promising young talent, Ayman Yamal. The game kicks off at 22:00 Israel time.

Spain's defense has been outstanding throughout the tournament, conceding only one goal in six matches, largely due to coach Luis de la Fuente's bold decision to bench two top goalkeepers, Joan Garcia and David Raya, in favor of Unai Simon. Simon has kept five clean sheets and set a new World Cup record for minutes without conceding.

France boasts a formidable attacking lineup including Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desiree Dowa, with Aurélien Tchouaméni returning to the starting eleven. Spain's coach faces a selection dilemma between Pedri and European champion Fabian Ruiz, stating both bring valuable qualities and might even play together.

Yamal expressed excitement and confidence ahead of the match, emphasizing his focus on playing his best for the team without pressure. His coach echoed this sentiment, urging him to stay calm and enjoy the experience. Meanwhile, France's coach Didier Deschamps surprisingly named Spain as the favorite, praising their defensive solidity and expecting an exciting, high-quality match between two strong offensive teams.

Projected lineups include France starting with Mike Maignan in goal, alongside Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne, Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Dembele, Olise, Dowa, and Mbappe. Spain is expected to field Unai Simon, Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro, Rodri Hernandez, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Ayman Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Alex Baena.