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UNITED STATES - JULY 13: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image, created on July 13, is a digital cutout composite of image numbers 2281145142, 2281145338, 2281145382, 2281145366, 2280945773, 2280945727, 2280945662 and 2280945206.) In this photo illustration, (L-R) Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Mike Maignan and Ousmane Dembele of France and Lamine Yamal, Unai Simon, Fabian Ruiz and Rodri of Spain ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between France and Spain on July 13, 2026 in the United States. The match will be played at Dallas Stadium on July 13, 2026. (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) | FIFA via Getty Images
We’ve reached the final four of the 2026 World Cup, and what a final four it is! Footballing superpowers in all four corners; all previous winners: in fact, it’s three of the last four champions (Spain in 2010, France in 2018, Argentina in 2022), plus England and their long drought dating back to 1966.
The first semifinal is a rematch of the Euro 2024 semifinal, which Spain won, 2-1 (they’d go on to win the final of that tournament against England).
The current European champions have marched relentlessly through this competition. They may be known as La Furia Roja, but this has been less fury and more cold, clinical efficiency. They’re like a machine; not exciting to watch, but hard to argue with the results. They are unbeaten in their last 36 (36!) games, dating back to a friendly against Colombia two years ago. Their last defeat in a competitive match was the year prior, a shock 2-0 reverse at Hampden Park against Scotland in a Euro qualifier.
France may have lost as recently as the preparatory friendlies for this World Cup, but at the tournament, they’ve been absolutely unstoppable. All the other remaining teams have had their hiccups; France have shown little difficulty in dispatching the opposition. And they’ve done so in scintillating style, powered by the glittering talent they have throughout their entire frontline. Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise have garnered most of the headlines, but in case they have a bad day, there are always Ousmane Dembélé, Désire Doué, Bradley Barcola … the list just goes on.
Spain do have the edge in midfield, so this probably won’t be as one-sided as we’ve come to expect from France, but hopefully it doesn’t just turn into an exercise in suffocating football.
Date / Time: Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 3pm EDT; 8pm BST
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, USA
Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
On TV: FOX, Telemundo (USA); ITV 1 (UK); elsewhere
Streaming online: FOX One, Peacock (USA); ITVx (UK)
Chelsea interest: Malo Gusto has not seen much action, less than 30 minutes across four appearances, and none of his minutes have come in leverage situations. If France are not up by at least two goals, Gusto stays on the bench. So that’s not great, but you never know with Gusto. Sometimes he pops up in unexpected places.
On other side, Marc Cucurella continues to hold down the left flank. He may not be a Chelsea player anymore, but he started the tournament as a Blue, so we can still count him if he ends up lifting the trophy in the end (Spain are the only team without a current Chelsea player in their squad).
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