What is Bastille Day? An extra special occasion for France against Spain in World Cup 2026 semifinal
France are on the hunt for their third World Cup in history, and they will have a chance to reach a third straight final if they beat Spain on Bastille Day.
Talk about the stars aligning for French fans all over the world. On Tuesday, Les Bleus will take on Spain for a chance to make it to their third straight World Cup final, and they can do it on a day that the country will already be in celebratory mood.
France ready for double celebration
Tuesday isn’t just the semifinal of the World Cup between France and Spain. The 14th of July is a special date on the French calendar. It is France’s National Day, much like the 4th of July in the United States. It’s a national holiday, and most of the country will have the day off to celebrate as they get ready for kickoff at 9:00 p.m. France time.
Bastille Day, also known as “le 14 juillet,” commemorates the Storming of the Bastille which took place on July 14th, 1789. It was turning point in the French Revolution as revolutionary insurgents stormed the political prison which represented a strong hold for the royal authority in the center of Paris.
At the time of the revolutionaries attack on the prison, there were only seven inmates being held at the political prison, and the Bastille was scheduled to be demolished soon after, but for those who were a part of the revolution, it was a symbol of royal authority. They stormed the prison, and after four hours and 94 deaths, the insurgents entered Bastille.
Time to storm Spain?
The Storming of Bastille is seen as a turning point in the French Revolution and a year later, on July 14th 1790, they celebrated what would become the first Bastille Day. Back in 1790 it was called the “Fete de Federacion” or Festival of the Federation which was held at the Champ de Mars.
Doesn't get bigger than this. Spain vs France in the Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/hiV4K7DzyJ
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 10, 2026
Since then, it has been celebrated annually. The name was changed to Bastille Day, and on Tuesday the French National team will have a chance to storm in to their third World Cup final as they try to set siege on Spain in the semifinals. It’s a classic battle of the top attack in the game taking on the best defense in the tournament.
Kylian Mbappe is tied with Lionel Messi for most goals in the tournament with eight, while Ousmane Dembele is looking for a World Cup to add to his second straight Champions League title, which would almost certainly secure him a second Ballon d’Or. They take on a Spain team that has only allowed one goal in the tournament. Kickoff is at 3:00 p.m. ET from Dallas, Texas.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment