France vs Spain, Mbappe vs Yamal: What you need to know about World Cup first semifinal

The ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached the last-four stage. The first semifinal tonight (12:30 AM IST, July 15, Wednesday) sees two former champions France and Spain facing off in Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, USA.

In the second semifinal, defending champions Argentina play against England in Atlanta on Thursday.

Also read: Why Argentina will wear away navy blue kit in England semifinal

As Europe’s highest-ranked teams face off on the pitch, fans across the globe will be keenly watching an individual battle between two talented footballers of this generation – Kylian Mbappe (France) versus Lamine Yamal (Spain).

Mbappe and Yamal have faced off in La Liga in the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. But the current clash has high stakes with countries involved and at the football’s biggest tournament.

France’s consistency at last 7 World Cups

France, who lost the 2022 edition final to Argentina in Qatar, are pre-tournament favourites and have been in top form with Mbappe leading the way.

Also read: Bengaluru extends restaurants, pubs timings till 3:30 AM for FIFA World Cup

In the previous seven World Cups, France have reached four finals, winning the trophy in 1998 and 2018, and runners-up in 2006 and 2022.

France and Spain are meeting again in the semifinals of a major tournament, just two years since going head-to-head at the European Championship.

Spain won 2-1 with a then-16-year-old Yamal on the score sheet and went on to lift the Euros by beating England in the final.

Mbappe’s powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Desire Doue were yet to break through.

Two years on and France are widely regarded to have been the most impressive team of this World Cup with a dizzying array of attacking talent and the joint leading scorer in Mbappe ahead of the semi-final on France’s Bastille Day.

In contrast, Spain had to contend with injuries to Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams coming into the tournament and has relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to edge past Portugal and Belgium in the last two rounds.

The nations have met on a number of occasions at the World Cup or Euros. France beat Spain in the final of Euro 84.

Neither France nor Spain have trailed at this year’s WC

France haven’t trailed at all at this year’s World Cup. Neither have Spain. Only one of them can make it to the final. France and Spain are both playing at their 17th World Cup, but have met only once previously on football’s biggest stage.

After entering this tournament as FIFA’s top-ranked team, France has outscored its opponents 14-2. Mbappe, the 2022 Golden Boot winner, has eight goals to match Lionel Messi for the scoring lead this time, and is one behind the Argentina captain’s career record of 21 at the World Cup.

The 27-year-old Mbappe has 20 goals in his 20 World Cup matches, including one in the 2018 win over Croatia when he joined Pele as the only teenagers to score in a World Cup final. And the star striker for Les Blues had said he is fine despite exiting in the 77th minute of their 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco after scoring a goal.

Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, has already been part of two semifinal wins with Spain over France. He was just days shy of his 17th birthday when he scored in a 2-1 win during the 2024 European Championship semifinals, and Spain won again in Nations League play last year.

France vs Spain: Head-to-head record

The two teams have met 38 times and Spain hold the advantage in their head-to-head record with 18 wins. France have emerged victorious on 13 times, while seven matches ended in a draw.

Previously, France and Spain have met only once at the World Cup, 20 years ago, in 2006, when Spain won 3-1 in the Round of 16.

France vs Spain: Last five meetings (Spain 3, France 2)

Spain won 5-4 (UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinals)

Spain won 2-1 (UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals)

France won 2-1 (UEFA Nations League 2021 final)

Spain won 2-0 (International friendly, 2017)

France won 1-0 (International friendly, 2014)

France and Spain’s World Cup trophies

France have won the World Cup trophy two times, in 1998 and 2018, while Spain had claimed the silverware once in 2010.

What Mbappe and Yamal said

“I was asked whether I feared France, and I said no because we are the European champions,” Yamal said and added, “And we don’t fear anyone.”

“Everyone is saying that I’m not giving my best performance. So you shouldn’t expect anything from me,” he said, responding to the criticism in the media.

“I was a champion (in 2018) and a World Cup runner-up (in 2022), and this team has not achieved anything yet,” said Mbappe.

“It is, however, the one who has the biggest potential. There are so many qualities in this squad; it allows you to dream,” he added.

Road to the semi-finals

France

June 16: France 3, Senegal 1 (Group Stage)

June 22: France 3, Iraq 0 (Group Stage)

June 26: France 4, Norway 1 (Group Stage)

June 30: France 3, Sweden 0 (Round of 32)

July 4: France 1, Paraguay 0 (Round of 16)

July 9: France 2, Morocco 0 (Quarterfinals)

Spain

June 15: Spain 0, Cape Verde 0 (Group Stage)

June 21: Spain 4, Saudi Arabia 0 (Group Stage)

June 26: Spain 1, Uruguay 0 (Group Stage)

July 2: Spain 3, Austria 0 (Round of 32)

July 6: Spain 1, Portugal 0 (Round of 16)

July 10: Spain 2, Belgium 1 (Quarterfinals)

France vs Spain squads

France

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), L Hernandez (PSG), T Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Lintasa (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG).

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter).

Spain

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona).

Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Pedri (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid), Mikel Merino (Arsenal).

Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).

(With agency inputs)