France vs Spain live online: updates, score, goals, and highlights | World Cup 2026 semifinals

This is the first time that France has found themselves losing in the tournament and they are trailing against a team that has only allowed one goal all tournament. 

Oyarzabal steps to the spot and tucks it home. This is going to change this game coming out of the hydration break.

Lamine Yamal goes down in the box off a clumsy challenge from Digne and Spain get the first chance of the game. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HYDRATION BREAK FROM DALLAS!!!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

IT'S OYARZABAL TUCKING IT HOME FROM THE PENALTY SPOT!!! HE WENT RIGHT AND THE KEEPER GUESSED RIGHT BUT COULDN'T GET THERE!!!

Digne got a head to the cross from Cucu but headed it straight up, and Yamal stepped in the way and took the blow!

PENALTY!!!!!!

DIGNE TOOK A STAB AT LAMINE YAMAL OFF AN INNOCENT CROSS FROM CUCURELLA AND KICKED YAMAL IN THE THIGH!!!

So far the only highlight of this game has been the ref forgetting his free kick spray. Not much on either side of the pitch has happened. When will this game start to open up, if ever?

France on the counter from the free kick and Mbappe was one vs one with Cubarsi. The Barca defender did just enough to hold Mbappe up and allow Pedro Porro to recover and strip him of possession. 

Rodri chopped down in the middle of the field and a free kick coming into the ares from a pretty difficult position for Spain. 

Mbappe cuts into the middle and sends a ball into the mix but that was over the head of every one and we are still looking for our first goal scoring chance from both sides. It serves Spain better this sort of game without too many chances for either side. They can't turn this into a shootout. That's exactly what France want. 

Baena slams it into the wall and Yamal picks it up and drives towards the end line but his cross was over the head of everyone in the mix. 

The free kick spray ran out and Ivan Barto had to go to the touchline and get a replacement. Everyone is ready for the semi except the ref!

It's a game being played in the middle third of the pitch at the moment, but Spain is going to have a free kick right outside the box after Olmo gets stepped on by Rabiot. First real chance for either team. Yellow card for Rabiot!

Olise puts in the outswinger but that cross falls harmlessly out of play for a goal kick. 

Digne to the end line off the overlap behind Mbappe and his cross is blocked off for a corner kick. 

Yamal with his first touch and he carries the ball into the middle of the pitch. It was a calm touch but it was an early touch that gets him into the game. 

It's a very tentative start for both teams, which is to be expected in a semifinal of the World Cup. 

The best chance Spain is going to have is keeping the ball away from France's top four that will be on the hunt from the very start. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS!!!

Spain is going with the same XI as they had in the quarterfinal against Belgium. 

Deschamps is going with Tchouament and Barcola in the XI instead of Doue and Kone.

World Cup

Who is Ivan Barton, the referee for France vs Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal matchup?

Today's ref

This has been a tournament that unfortunately has been marred by controversy. Refereeing, VAR, and some of the decision making after the whistle has certainly come in to question throughout the World Cup. Having said that, we will cross our fingers that the man in the middle plays as little role as possible in this massive matchup. Here is all the info on the ref in charge of the semifinal, Ivan Barton.

World Cup 2026

‘La Roja’ eclipse France in World Cup travel distance

France's shorter road to semis

Let’s preface this by saying we aren’t swayed one way or another here at AS English, even if we are a Spanish company. But let’s just state facts here. Spain has had to travel an awful lot more than Les Bleus who have been nestled up in the northeast for the entire tournament. There is a considerable difference in miles covered. Our Paul Reidy has more.

World Cup

What is Bastille Day? An extra special occasion for France against Spain in World Cup 2026 semifinal

Double dose of celebration in France

It's a special day in France, and not just because their national team are in the semifinal of the World Cup. Today is a celebratory day around the country, and if their team win, it will only add to the festivities. It’s Bastille Day in France, and that means there could be a double dose of celebration as their team looks to make it three straight finals in three straight World Cups.

The other semifinal

We have a battle of two European giants in this semifinal match up and the other semifinal is filled with two teams with plenty of history. History in the sense of their countries history in the sport, and history in terms of head to head battles. Argentina and England play tomorrow from Atlanta to decide the second finalist that will be heading to New York/New Jersey on Sunday. They will be watching the first semi today before setting their sight on tomorrow's game.

FIFA World Rankings

If you take a look at the rankings, there is a little bit of a disparity in who the favorites in the odds makers minds are and who the top teams in the world are. According to the FIFA World Rankings, France are the top team in the world after over taking Argentina throughout the course of this tournament. The South Americans have been bumped down to second while Spain is third and England is fourth. It’s what we signed up for isn’t it? The top four teams in the world locking horns in the semifinals as the last four teams standings.

Odds to win it all

And then there were four. These are the four that we expected, and let’s be honest they are the four that we wanted to be at this stage of the tournament. France and Spain came into the tournament as the two favorites but only one of these teams will be moving on to the final. According to Bet365, France are the favorites coming into the semis at +137 while Spain and England are second favorites, with both paying out +333. Argentina are at the bottom of the list paying +450.

Three peat finalists in World Cups past

We have already talked about how much of a force this France team is in world soccer, especially recently. They have a chance to do something today that only two teams in the history of the World Cup have done. If France beat Spain, they will be heading to their third straight World Cup final. The first team to do so was West Germany back in the 80s and early 90s. They were runners up in 1982 and 1986 before winning it in 1990 for their third World Cup. Brazil took the torch after that tournament, winning the 1994 World Cup in the US before losing to France in the 1998 World Cup. They would get back to the final in 2002 and win for a second time in three tried, when they beat Germany in Yokohama, Japan.

Lamine heats up semi with prematch presser

As if this match needed any more fuel added to the fire, Lamine Yamal might have just given the French a little added motivation after his final press conference before today's match. He asked why France should be the favorites if they haven’t beaten Spain since before the Euros. Those in the France dressing room certainly heard that and will be keeping that in the back of their minds.

STARTING XI France

Didier Deschamps has a luxury of riches to choose from, especially up top. This is who is is going with against Spain in this semifinal. It's Maignan in goal with Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba and Digne on the back line. In the middle it’s  Tchouament, Rabiot with Dembele, Olise, Barcola all free to flow around the attacking midfield as Mbappe looks to get in behind.

The birthday boy's big day

Happy Birthday Lamine Yamal. The Spanish sensation will be a teenager for one more year after turning 19 yesterday, July 13th. In three years with Barcelona he has scored 49 goals and given 45 assists in 151 matches. With the Spanish national team, he has played in 31 matches, scoring 7 goals and dished out 12 assists. At just 19 years of age, he has already won three La LIga titles, a Copa del Rey and the Euros back in 2024. Nothing would make him happier than a goal or two and a trip to the World Cup final as a gift to himself today from Dallas.

Last game: France

France played Morocco from Boston and the African side, which was looking for a second straight trip to a World Cup semifinal, held tight for a while, but eventually succumbed to the blistering French attack. Morocco was keeping things awfully compact in the back and France was struggling to find anything of real value in the attacking third. Finally, Kylian Mbappe drew a penalty in the 28th minute, but Morocco keeper Bono saved the spot kick to keep the match deadlocked at 0-0. Mbappe would have his say at the hour mark with a fantastic strike around a defender and past Bono for the first goal of the game. Six minutes later it was Ousmane Dembele double the France lead to seal the match and their place in the semis.

Last game: Spain

For a second straight game it was Spain leaving it late and winning in dramatic fashion to book their spot in the semifinals. A match against Belgium in which they conceded the first goal of the tournament, but they spirit of the Spaniards didn't allow what was a record setting stretch come to and end defeat them. Fabian put Spain up in the first half with a rebounded goal at the 30 minute mark. Charles De Ketelaere evened the score right before the break to send the two teams into the dressing room all square at 1-1. Spain had more possession and more chances in the second half but it took an 88th minute goal from Mikel Merino off another rebound to put Spain through to the semis.