It is semi-final time at World Cup 2026, and first up is France vs Spain at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Kylian Mbappe vs Lamine Yamal is the headline battle as we approach kick-off, but there will be so many superstars on show in Texas.
Check out our full semi-final preview below, which features some online betting tips and the latest World Cup odds on the NetBet Sport platform.
And we already have some markets for France vs Spain available on the new-look Bet Boosts page. Take advantage of increased odds, and play your way this summer!
Where can I watch France vs Spain in the UK?
France vs Spain will be broadcast live on ITV1, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
France vs Spain Preview
Recent results
France are yet to concede a goal in the knockout rounds, having beaten Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0) and – most recently – Morocco (2-0) en route to the semis. Mbappe has tallied eight goals at this tournament, while Ousmane Dembele has five of his own. Michael Olise is also on five assists, more than any other player.
Spain’s path to the final four has been slightly more treacherous, particularly in the last two rounds. La Roja comfortably beat Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32, but then required a late Mikel Merino goal to beat fierce rivals Portugal 1-0 in the next stage. And it was more heroics from Merino off the bench in the quarter-finals as Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 thanks to an 88th-minute close-range finish from the Arsenal midfieler.
Head-to-head record
France vs Spain is one of the biggest and most heated rivalries in international football. The two nations met 38 times previously, with La Roja the dominant force by collecting 18 wins. Les Bleus boast 13 victories, with the other seven contests ending in a draw.
The pair collided at the Euro 2024 semi-finals, with Spain coming from behind to win 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy.
And the last meeting was in the Nations League semis, a thrilling contest which La Roja eventually won 5-4 after taking a 5-1 lead. Yamal and Mbappe were both on the scoresheet that evening in Stuttgart.
Team news
Didier Deschamps should have Aurelien Tchouameni back available for selection, though Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot have forged a stellar midfield partnership in recent matches. The France boss has no other injuries or suspensions to contend with, but has a big call to make with regard to Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola in attack alongside Mbappe, Dembele and Olise.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente also has no injury or suspensions within the squad, a huge boost ahead of such a big semi-final. Pedri looks certain to come back into the starting XI after being afforded a rest vs Belgium, while attacker Alex Baena may drop out in favour of either Ferran Torres or Nico Williams. The rest of the team pretty much picks itself, though.
France vs Spain Odds
*All odds are subject to change
France are slight pre-match favourites at odds of 2.29. A victory for Spain is priced at 3.20, with the draw after 90 minutes at 3.06.
France vs Spain Betting Tips
Both teams to score – Yes @ 1.60
Semi-finals can sometimes be cagey affairs, but surely there is too much attacking quality on both sides for the avoidance of goals here. Furthermore, this is a pick with historical context for the fixture, having landed in four of the last five editions.
Player to score or assist – Ousmane Dembele @ 2.21
With so much focus on Mbappe (and rightly so), Dembele’s performances are going under the radar a tad. The Ballon d’Or winner has five goals at World Cup 2026, netting the crucial second against Morocco in the quarter-finals. With Spain perhaps using too many of their defensive resources to occupy Mbappe, Dembele could be the Les Bleus star to shine brightest.
Lamine Yamal to have over 1.5 shots on target @ 2.37
Yamal has scored only one goal at World Cup 2026, but his fearless style of play lends itself perfectly to the SOT market. The Barcelona winger is never afraid to have a pop from distance, and is usually clinical inside the box. Yamal has recorded over 1.5 shots on target in his last three appearances at the tournament and in four of the previous five, so a price higher than evens looks very tempting indeed.
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