- France vs Spain lineups: Luis de la Fuente names the same starting XI that defeated Belgium on Friday, while Kylian Mbappe spearheads the Les Bleus attack.
- The match will be played at Dallas Stadium, with kick-off set for 10:00pm EAT.
- The winner will face either Argentina or England in the FIFA World Cup final, while the losers will contest the third-place playoff.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has named the same La Roja side that started Saturday’s quarter-final victory over Belgium as they take on France, led by Kylian Mbappe, tonight at Dallas Stadium with a place in the World Cup final up for grabs.
Spain line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Unai Simon starting between the posts.
He is protected by full-backs Pedro Porro on the right and Marc Cucurella on the left, while Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte marshal the heart of the defence.
ALSO READ: France vs Spain prediction: World Cup semi-final preview, team news, lineups & h2h
Official France vs Spain lineups
In midfield, the influential pairing of Rodri and Fabian Ruiz will dictate the tempo. Further forward, the exciting Lamine Yamal operates from the right wing, Dani Olmo occupies the No. 10 role, and Alex Baena provides width on the left, all supporting striker Mikel Oyarzabal.
In another intriguing twist, Arsenal sensation Mikel Merino, who scored the dramatic late winners in the previous two matches against Portugal and Belgium, will once again begin on the bench should the reigning European champions struggle to break down Les Bleus.
Spain will also be without midfielder Pedri in the starting lineup, while dynamic winger Nico Williams, who came off the bench on Saturday, is again among the substitutes as he continues to recover from an adductor strain.
- Spain starting XI: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal
- Spain substitutes: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
France counters that continuity with an equally balanced and physically imposing lineup of their own.
Lucas Digne starts at left-back, offering defensive discipline to help contain the threat of Yamal.
The central midfield partnership of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot is built to disrupt Spain’s rhythm and regain possession quickly in the engine room.
CLICK LINK TO PLACE YOUR LIVE BET ON THIS GAME NOW!
Once they win the ball, France will look to transition at lightning speed through Michael Olise in the playmaker’s role, supplying the blistering pace of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola on the flanks.
This entire setup is designed to create one-on-one situations for Mbappe, who will be aiming to add to his tally of eight goals in this edition while chasing his 21st career World Cup goal in what will be his 21st World Cup appearance. He will also be eager to test the positioning of Spain’s backline.
- France starting XI: Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Kylian Mbappe
- France substitutes: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Kone, N’Golo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Marcus Thuram, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta
The ultimate prize for the winner is a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on Sunday, July 19, at the spectacular New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), where tonight’s victor will battle either Argentina or England for football’s biggest prize.
Meanwhile, the losing side will face the defeated team from the other semi-final on Saturday at Miami Stadium in the third-place playoff, with the bronze medal at stake.
Where to watch France vs Spain match in Kenya
In Kenya, you can catch the crucial semifinal World Cup clash between France vs Spain live on SuperSport International (via DStv Channel 222) or on Azam TV Kenya through Azam Sports 2 HD and Azam Sports 4 HD.
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026