France and Spain have confirmed their starting teams for their World Cup 2026 semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday.
The reigning European champions and 2010 World Cup winners came from behind to beat Belgium 2-1 courtesy of Mikel Merino’s 88th-minute goal in the last eight.
Second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele sent Les Bleus through with a 2-0 victory against Morocco.
The winners will meet England or Argentina, who face each other on Wednesday (20:00 BST), in the final in New Jersey on Sunday (20:00).
𝑻𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒖𝒓 avec nos Bleus 🎵💙
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) July 14, 2026
🇫🇷🆚🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ATx23f0jTq
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World Cup 2026: France confirmed team vs Spain
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni returns from injury in place of Manu Kone in one of two changes for France.
Desire Doue makes way for fellow Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with reports in France suggesting head coach Didier Deschamps made the change because he prefers pace to technical perfection against Spain.
France starting XI: Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Kylian Mbappe
France substitutes: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Kone, N’Golo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Marcus Thuram, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta
World Cup 2026: Spain full line up vs France
Spain are unchanged.
Spain starting XI: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal
Spain substitutes: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
Where to watch France vs Spain: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on ITV1.
Streaming is via ITV’s website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
World Cup 2026: France vs Spain stats
- The previous meeting at a World Cup between these teams was a last-16 fixture in 2006, when France came from behind to win 3-1 with two goals in the final 10 minutes
- Spain have lost two of their last 10 meetings with France in all competitions (W7 D1) and triumphed in each of the last two
- They were 2-1 victors in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, when Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo overturned Randal Kolo Muani‘s opener
- Yamal scored twice as Spain won a thrilling Nations League final-four clash with France 5-4 in June last year
- Charles De Ketelaere’s header for Belgium is the only goal Spain have conceded at the 2026 edition
- France can emulate Germany (1982, 1986 and 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998 and 2002) by reaching three consecutive World Cup finals
- Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have created 19 chances for one another at the finals (10 Mbappe to Dembele, 9 Dembele to Mbappe)
- Only three pairs of players on record (from 1966) have created at least chances for each other at the finals: Franz Beckenbauer and Wolfgang Overath (25), Rivaldo and Ronaldo (23) and Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi (21)
- With eight goals, Mbappe is level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot but ahead by virtue of assists (3-2)
- The Real Madrid forward’s all-time tally in the World Cup knockout stages of 12 is the most of any player – while he has scored in the round of 32 (2), round of 16 (5), quarter-final (1) and final (4), Mbappe has not found the net in his two semi-final appearances
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