France, Spain set for blockbuster FIFA World Cup semifinal

ARLINGTON: France and Spain will face off in the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night, with a place in the tournament final at stake.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 12 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time and features one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups, pitting France’s potent attack against Spain’s outstanding defense.

Spain has conceded just one goal throughout the tournament and remains unbeaten, with its only dropped points coming in a scoreless draw against Cape Verde. The Spaniards are bidding to win their second World Cup title.

France, the 2018 World Cup champion and runner-up four years later, has reached the World Cup final in four of the last seven editions, underlining its consistency on football’s biggest stage.

France will look to captain Kylian Mbappé to lead its attack, while Spain’s hopes will rest largely on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who has been one of the standout performers of the tournament.

Spain also enters the match with recent success against France, having defeated the French side at UEFA Euro 2024 and in the UEFA Nations League semifinals last year.