As familiar opponents, France and Spain are set to meet in a crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match at Dallas Stadium. Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, acknowledged that France has significantly improved since their previous encounters, particularly in Euro 2024. The upcoming game marks the second time these teams will face off in the World Cup, with France having won their last encounter in the 2006 round of 16 with a 3-1 victory.
The French national team has notably suffered defeats against Spain in recent years, including losses in the Nations League semi-finals in 2025 and the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Munich. De La Fuente emphasized the growth of individual players like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, as well as the overall improvement of the French team. Both teams are gearing up for a challenging match, with Spain aiming to contain France’s key players and minimize their impact on the game.
France has been dominant in the tournament, led by standout performances from Mbappe and Dembele, who have scored eight and five goals, respectively. Their journey to the semi-finals included a convincing 2-0 victory over Morocco. In contrast, Spain faced tough battles against Portugal and Belgium, relying on late goals from Mikel Merino to secure their spot in the final four.
De La Fuente highlighted the high level of competition in the semi-finals, considering the match between France and Spain as a potential tournament final. He also noted the quality of the other semi-final between Argentina and England, emphasizing that the remaining four teams are among the best in the world. As the competition intensifies, Spain is focused on continuous improvement, minimizing errors, maintaining control of the game, and displaying discipline and intelligence on both ends of the field.
