The France vs Spain World Cup semifinal kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Fans in the US can watch on FOX, in Spanish on Telemundo, or stream it on Peacock. The winner moves one step from lifting the trophy. And at the heart of it all sits the duel everyone wants to see: Yamal vs Mbappé.
This is more than a match. It is a rematch, a rivalry, and a passing-of-the-torch story rolled into one. Here is the full picture before kickoff.
What Time Does France vs Spain Kick Off?
France vs Spain kicks off at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) on Tuesday, July 14, per the official FIFA World Cup 26 match schedule. It is the first of the two World Cup 2026 semifinals. England vs Argentina follows a day later in Atlanta.
Kickoff falls on a workday afternoon in the US. Expect offices to go quiet and group chats to explode.
Where Is the France vs Spain Semifinal Being Played?
The match takes place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. The venue, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, holds just over 70,000 fans for the tournament. It has hosted more match days than any other stadium at this World Cup. Tuesday’s semifinal is its grand finale.
How to Watch France vs Spain World Cup Semifinal
US viewers have three easy options:
- TV (English): FOX
- TV (Spanish): Telemundo
- Streaming: Peacock, plus the FOX Sports app with a cable login
Yamal vs Mbappé: The Duel That Defines the Match
Strip everything else away and one storyline remains. Kylian Mbappé against Lamine Yamal. The face of Les Bleus against the teenage jewel of La Roja. Real Madrid against Barcelona, transplanted from El Clásico onto the biggest stage in sport.
Here is the twist, though. This is not a duel of equals right now.
Mbappé Is Chasing History
Mbappé arrives in terrifying form. He has eight goals in six matches, second in the Golden Boot 2026 race behind only Lionel Messi. He became the first player ever to score eight or more goals in back-to-back World Cups. He is also the only man to reach 20 career goals in his first 20 World Cup appearances.
He is not doing it alone. Ousmane Dembélé has chipped in five goals. Michael Olise has been a revelation, racking up six assists — one more ties Pelé’s record for a single tournament.
Yamal Is Still Searching
Lamine Yamal’s World Cup 2026 has been quieter. He entered the tournament carrying an injury and has one goal so far, scored against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. That is a world away from the player who lit up Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League.
The encouraging sign for Spain? He has looked sharper with every match since returning. Mikel Oyarzabal leads La Roja with four goals, and Mikel Merino has twice rescued them with late winners. But if Yamal rediscovers his magic on Tuesday, Spain’s ceiling changes completely.
Have Yamal and Mbappé Played Each Other Before?
Yes — several times. They meet regularly in El Clásico, the storied Barcelona vs Real Madrid rivalry in La Liga. They also met at international level in the Euro 2024 semifinal, which brings us to the grudge part of this story.
The Euro 2024 Rematch: Spain Owes France Nothing, France Owes Spain Everything
Two years ago, Spain beat France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinal — a 16-year-old Yamal scored a stunning goal that night, and Dani Olmo added the winner. Spain went on to lift the trophy. France went home wondering what might have been.
Tuesday is the rematch, with even higher stakes. Under Didier Deschamps, France is hunting a third title. Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain is chasing its first World Cup since 2010. Historically, Spain holds the edge in this fixture — La Roja has won more of their head-to-head meetings than Les Bleus.
France vs Spain Prediction: Who Is Favored?
Most models, including Opta’s supercomputer at The Analyst, tilt toward France, and it is easy to see why. Les Bleus are a perfect six wins from six. One more victory makes them only the second team ever to record seven outright wins at a single World Cup, matching Brazil in 2002.
Spain’s route has been bumpier. Aside from comfortable wins over Saudi Arabia and Austria, every knockout victory has come by a single goal. Two of those winners arrived after the 85th minute. Belgium fell 2-1 in the quarterfinal thanks to another late Merino strike, while France beat Morocco 2-0 after surviving a penalty shootout against Italy in the round before.
The numbers favor France. But Spain’s habit of finding a way — and the memory of Euro 2024 — makes this far closer than the form guide suggests.
What Happens If the Match Is Tied After 90 Minutes?
If the score is level after normal time, the teams play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If it is still tied, the semifinal goes to a penalty shootout. France already survived one shootout this tournament against Italy, so Deschamps’ side knows the drill.
Who Does the Winner Play in the Final?
The winner of France vs Spain faces the winner of England vs Argentina, which is played on Wednesday, July 15, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The World Cup 2026 final follows on the closing weekend.
Quick Facts and Figures
- Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET, Tuesday, July 14, 2026
- Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- TV/Stream: FOX, Telemundo, Peacock
- Mbappé: 8 goals, 3 assists — second in the Golden Boot race
- Olise: 6 assists, one shy of Pelé’s single-tournament record
- Yamal: 1 goal, still waiting for his signature World Cup moment
- France: 6-0-0, chasing a record-equaling seventh straight win
- Spain: Last World Cup title in 2010; won the Euro 2024 semifinal meeting 2-1
FAQs About the France vs Spain World Cup Semifinal
How many goals does Mbappé have at the 2026 World Cup?
Eight goals in six matches, plus three assists. Only Messi sits ahead of him in the scoring race.
Why hasn’t Yamal scored more at this World Cup?
He came into the tournament recovering from an injury. His only goal came in the group stage against Saudi Arabia, though his performances have improved match by match.
Who won when France played Spain at Euro 2024?
Spain won 2-1 in the semifinal, with goals from Yamal and Olmo, before going on to win the tournament.
When was the last time Spain won the World Cup?
2010, when La Roja beat the Netherlands in the final in South Africa.
What is France vs Spain’s head-to-head record?
The two nations have met dozens of times across all competitions, and Spain holds the historical advantage in wins. Published counts vary by source depending on which fixtures are included — 11v11’s match database is a reliable place to verify the full history.
Final Whistle: Don’t Miss Kickoff
The France vs Spain World Cup semifinal has everything. A rematch with revenge in the air. A striker chasing history. A teenager chasing redemption. One spot in the final.
Set a reminder for 3 p.m. ET on July 14, grab your spot on the couch, and settle in. Matches like this do not come around often — and when Yamal and Mbappé share a pitch with a final on the line, anything can happen.