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France, Spain Meet in Historic World Cup Semifinal.

7/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

France and Spain will meet in the semifinal at AT&T Stadium, Texas on July 14, 2026.
It is the first semifinal since 1990 to feature two champions.
France entered scoring 14 goals and conceding two, while Spain allowed one goal until Belgium scored in the quarterfinal.
Coaches Didier Deschamps and Luis de la Fuente said midfield control will decide the match, with Deschamps favoring possession and de la Fuente front-foot approach.

History

Historical Context

The 1990 World Cup in Italy saw two semi-finals between former champions—West Germany vs England and Argentina vs Italy—both ending 1-1 and decided by identical 4-3 penalty shoot-outs, a pattern that highlighted the tournament’s defensive trend and four shoot-outs overall. The 2026 France-Spain semi-final at AT&T Stadium mirrors that champion-versus-champion clash, reviving the historic formula that has long boosted World Cup viewership.

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Story summary

France and Spain will meet in the semifinal at AT&T Stadium, Texas on July 14, 2026.
It is the first semifinal since 1990 to feature two champions.
France entered scoring 14 goals and conceding two, while Spain allowed one goal until Belgium scored in the quarterfinal.
Coaches Didier Deschamps and Luis de la Fuente said midfield control will decide the match, with Deschamps favoring possession and de la Fuente front-foot approach.

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