France vs Spain serves up a heavyweight FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, with history, streaks and star power colliding. We pulled together the smartest Opta facts so you can scan the match story at a glance. Stick around for the key head-to-head notes, the streaks on the line, and the players and managers shaping this tie. You can follow the game live on Sofascore, including momentum swings, lineups and the live Sofascore Rating.

Head-to-head: a rare World Cup meeting with a modern twist

This is only the second FIFA World Cup meeting between France and Spain. The first came in the 2006 last 16, when Les Bleus came from behind to win 3-1. Since then they have met often, and Spain have steadied the rivalry. La Roja have lost just two of the last ten meetings in all competitions, with seven wins and one draw. Their last two clashes both went Spain’s way.

It finished 2-1 to Spain in the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final. They also won 5-4 in the UEFA Nations League in June 2025. Opta’s split paints a slight tilt toward Spain’s recent form. Even so, that lone World Cup tie belongs to France. With a semi-final spot on the line again, history and current trends collide.

Semi-final habits: France’s volume, Spain’s efficiency

France are in their eighth FIFA World Cup semi-final, and only Germany have more with 12. They fell in their first three semi-finals in 1958, 1982 and 1986. Since then they have reached the final in each of their last four semi-final appearances. Those came in 1998, 2006, 2018 and 2022. Impressively, they won the last three of those semis without conceding a goal.

Spain are far less frequent visitors at this stage of the World Cup. This is just their second World Cup semi-final, and the last time they made it in 2010 they went on to win the trophy. Their broader semi-final record at major tournaments is strong. La Roja have progressed from six of seven semi-finals across the World Cup and EUROs. That run includes eliminating France at EURO 2024 at this very stage, with their only semi-final exit coming against Italy at EURO 2020 on penalties.

Streaks to watch in 2026

France can join rare company by returning to the final again. They are looking to become only the third team in World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals. Germany did it in 1982, 1986 and 1990, and Brazil matched it in 1994, 1998 and 2002. Les Bleus have also won all six of their matches at the 2026 World Cup so far. Another win would make them just the second European side to take seven straight at a World Cup, along with Italy across the 1934 and 1938 editions.

Spain arrive with formidable consistency of their own since 2018. They have lost just one of 27 matches at major tournaments in that span, with 16 wins and 10 draws. They are unbeaten in 14 since a 2-1 loss to Japan at the 2022 World Cup. Over those 14, they have conceded only five goals and never more than one in any game, with nine clean sheets. La Roja have also won each of their last seven knockout matches at major tournaments and could become the first European nation to make it eight on the bounce, a mark only Italy 1934-1938 and Spain 2008-2012 have touched at seven.

Firepower and link-ups in the final third

France have been firing freely in 2026. They have produced 47 shots on target, their most at a World Cup since the 53 they logged on home soil in 1998. Their average of 7.8 shots on target per match is their best on record since 1966. Kylian Mbappé leads that charge with 3.3 shots on target per 90 minutes, the most by a French player in a single edition on record since 1966, among those with 150 or more minutes. The chemistry with Ousmane Dembélé is another thread to watch.

Mbappé and Dembélé have created 19 chances for one another at World Cup finals. It breaks down as 10 from Mbappé to Dembélé and nine the other way. Only three pairs have ever created 20 or more for each other at the finals on record since 1966. Those are Franz Beckenbauer with Wolfgang Overath on 25, Rivaldo with Ronaldo on 23, and Ángel Di María with Lionel Messi on 21. One more link between the French pair would move them into that elite company, while Mbappé also chases a first ever World Cup semi-final goal despite already owning a record 12 in knockout rounds across the other stages.

Managers, super-subs and the fine margins

The touchline and the bench could decide this too. Didier Deschamps will be in charge of his 26th World Cup match today. That is an outright record for a manager at the tournament, moving him past Germany’s Helmut Schön. Under Deschamps, Kylian Mbappé has played 20 World Cup games and scored 20 World Cup goals. Both are the most by a player under a single manager in World Cup history.

On the other side, Luis de la Fuente’s calm build has delivered spotless returns on the big stage. He has now managed more games across the World Cup and EURO without a defeat than any other coach, with 13 matches at W12 D1. Spain’s bench has also landed heavy punches.

Mikel Merino is the first player ever to score the winning goal in two different World Cup knockout matches as a substitute, doing it against Portugal and Belgium. Only one player has either scored in three straight substitute appearances or in three separate games as a sub at a single edition, and that is Romelu Lukaku at the 2026 World Cup. You can follow how these calls influence momentum and the live Sofascore Rating on Sofascore throughout the semi-final.