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France and Spain to Face Off in Dallas in 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinal
In the tournament's most anticipated match, two giants are expected to shine: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. Opta's supercomputer gives France a 42.1% chance of winning, while Spain's chance is calculated at 31.8%.
In the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the two pre-tournament favorites, France and Spain, will meet in Dallas. In this colossal clash that football fans have been waiting for months, two super talents will take the stage: Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Match Prediction: France Favored
According to Opta's supercomputer, France has a 42.1% chance of winning in regular time, while Spain's is 31.8%. The probability of the match going to extra time is forecast at 26.1%.
Stadium and Capacity
The semifinal at Dallas Stadium, with a capacity of 70,649 spectators, will be the venue hosting the most matches in the tournament. Located in Arlington, Texas, this stadium is normally known as the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
History of the Rivalry
The two nations have met 38 times; Spain leads with 18 wins, France has 13, and 7 matches ended in draws. Most recently, in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, Spain won a breathtaking 5-4 contest with two goals from Yamal.
Their only World Cup meeting came in 2006, when France defeated Spain 3-1 with goals from Ribery, Vieira, and Zidane.
Key Players
France's biggest weapon is Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race with 8 goals and 3 assists. Ousmane Dembele (5 goals) and Michael Olise (5 assists) have also been effective in attack.
For Spain, surprisingly, Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal is the team's top scorer with 4 goals. Mikel Moreno (2 goals) and Marc Cucurella (2 assists) have contributed, while Yamal, returning from injury, has yet to find his full rhythm; he has one goal so far.
Strengths and Weaknesses
France boasts a very strong attacking line led by Mbappe, with Barcola, Dembele, and Olise behind him. Although they allowed scoring chances to Senegal and Norway in the group stage, they have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the knockout rounds.
Spain, on the other hand, stands out with a solid defense that has conceded only one goal in the tournament. However, their attack has at times been slow and lacking creativity; they won their last two matches thanks to late goals from substitute Merino.
In Case of a Draw
If the match is tied after regular time, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played. If the deadlock persists, a penalty shootout will decide the winner.
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