France Vs Spain LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Mbappe Becomes Most Capped French Player In Competition

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and website.

France head into this semifinal clash at Dallas Stadium with Didier Deschamps opting for two tactical adjustments following their quarter-final win over Morocco. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Bradley Barcola enter the starting XI in place of Manu Koné and Désiré Doué. This selection is a landmark moment for Tchouaméni, who earns his 50th international cap, and for captain Kylian Mbappé, who makes his 21st World Cup appearance, officially surpassing Hugo Lloris to become the most-capped French player in the history of the tournament.

Conversely, Luis de la Fuente has opted for consistency, naming an unchanged Spain lineup from the side that defeated Belgium. Fabián Ruiz retains his midfield spot over Pedri, while the tournament's standout "super-sub," Mikel Merino, remains on the bench, ready to provide an impact in the later stages once again.

Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal

SUBS: David Raya, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Ferran Torres, Gavi, Yeremy Pino, Joan Garcia, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias

Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe

SUBS: Brice Samba, Malo Gusto, Manu Kone, Marcus Thuram, N'Golo Kante, Ibrahima Konate, Warren Zaire-Emery, Theo Hernandez, Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Robin Risser, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Maxence Lacroix

In the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final held on July 9, 2024, in Munich, Spain defeated France 2–1 to secure their place in the tournament final. France took an early lead in the 9th minute when Randal Kolo Muani headed in a cross from Kylian Mbappé. However, Spain responded quickly; 16-year-old Lamine Yamal equalized in the 21st minute with a spectacular long-range strike, making him the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship. Just four minutes later, Dani Olmo scored what proved to be the winner, with his goal-bound shot deflecting into the net off French defender Jules Koundé. Despite late pressure from France, Spain’s defense held firm to seal the victory.

Kylian Mbappé is currently locked in an electrifying Golden Boot race at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sitting atop the goal-scoring charts alongside Lionel Messi with eight goals apiece. After scoring in France's quarter-final victory over Morocco, Mbappé holds a crucial advantage in the tie-breaking criteria; he currently leads the standings by virtue of having provided three assists to Messi's two. As both France and Argentina advance to the semi-finals, the battle for individual glory remains wide open. While Mbappé currently holds the edge in efficiency and assist count, the final two matches for both teams ensure that every goal scored in the closing stages of the tournament could be the difference in securing the prestigious adidas Golden Boot.

France’s attacking unit has been the defining force of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, propelling the team to a third consecutive semifinal appearance with a display of ruthless efficiency and electrifying pace. Central to this success is captain Kylian Mbappé, whose tournament-leading eight goals have cemented his status as the competition's premier threat. Complementing his brilliance is a highly productive supporting cast, including Ousmane Dembélé, who has notched five goals of his own, and playmaker Michael Olise, who leads the tournament with five assists. Collectively, Les Bleus have scored 16 goals, utilizing a tactical evolution that combines their signature devastating counterattacks with an improved ability to break down organized defensive blocks. With multiple players—including Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, and Dembélé—regularly creating high-quality chances through their elite ball-carrying ability, France remains the most dangerous attacking side remaining in the tournament.

Spain’s defensive performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been nothing short of historic, setting a new benchmark for excellence as they head into the semi-finals. Having conceded only a single goal across their six matches, La Roja have suffocated opposition attacks through a proactive "counter-press" that prioritizes maintaining and regaining possession, often forcing turnovers in just over 11 seconds. This collective approach, anchored by the composure of young talents like Pau Cubarsí and the calm leadership of goalkeeper Unai Simón, has effectively removed the conditions that lead to high-quality shots. By starving opponents of the ball and disrupting their rhythm before they can reach the final third, Spain has turned defense into their most potent weapon, pushing deep into the tournament with a defensive record that stands as the gold standard of this World Cup.

Former Indian footballer Robin Singh opened up on refereeing, France and Didier Deschamps in an exclusive interview with Outlook. Here is what he said.

Mikel Merino has cemented his place in FIFA World Cup history with a series of remarkable "super-sub" performances for Spain during the 2026 tournament. Demonstrating a unique ability to deliver in high-pressure moments, the 30-year-old midfielder became the first player ever to score the winning goal as a substitute in two separate knockout matches at a single World Cup. After netting a dramatic stoppage-time winner to eliminate Portugal in the Round of 16, Merino repeated the feat in the quarter-finals against Belgium, entering the game in the 86th minute and finding the back of the net just 117 seconds later to secure a 2-1 victory. Despite having started only one match in the tournament, his clinical impact off the bench has been instrumental in dragging Spain into their first semi-final appearance since their 2010 title run.

France and Spain are ready for a fierce clash of styles as France's offensive transition threat and quality face the control and structure of Spain. Check the France vs Spain match prediction here.

Ivan Barton will be the referee in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final between France and Spain. Fans can check the remainder of the match officials here.

Lamine Yamal clash with Kylian Mbappe in the biggest of the stages. Fans can check the preview of the France vs Spain semi-final match here.

Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026™

Stage: Semi-finals

Kickoff Time: 3:00 PM ET (12:30 AM IST on July 15)

Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Referee: Ivan Barton (El Salvador)

Greetings, we are back with our FIFA World Cup 2026 live blog as France and Spain face-off in the Semi-final match. The action is about to begin, so stay tuned for all the live updates from Dallas Stadium.