Live: France and Spain meet for a spot in the World Cup final

France are the overwhelming favourites for the FIFA World Cup, but first they will have to battle past European champions Spain in Dallas.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

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Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:58am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:58am

Live updates: France vs Spain

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Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:28am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:28am

27' Mbappé finding space

By Simon Smale

Straight from the restart, Mbappé dances his way into space just on the edge of the final third.

He is dancing around but just can't find his way through — the Spanish defenders crowding around him quickly and cutting off his space.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:24am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:24am

24' TV timeout

By Simon Smale

Time for a break.

A good chance for France just to regroup, you'd think.

Spain will be thrilled to be ahead; it goes without saying.

There haven't been many clear chances — if any — so far in this game.

It was a silly penalty to give away, a little unfortunate, but it leaves France with a mountain to climb.

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:22am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:22am

22' SPAIN LEADS!

By Simon Smale

Mikel Oyarzabal is absolutely nerveless!

A powerfully struck penalty to the left of Mike Maignan.

Spain leads.

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:19am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:19am

20' PENALTY SPAIN!

By Simon Smale

Lucas Digne can't control an awkward ball on the edge of the penalty area, he turns and kicks at the ball, but catches Lamine Yamal, who goes down.

It's a clear penalty, unfortunately for the French.

Mbappé is arguing his case and delaying the taking of the spotkick, and the referee has told him and his French teammates in no uncertain terms to get out of the way.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:16am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:16am

16' France corner

By Simon Smale

That's sublime from France.

A magical pass from Dembélé out of defence towards Mbappé, who had three Spanish players immediately around him.

Mbappé tries as hard as he can to get space for a shot but is crowded out of it, the ball falling out wide where it is pushed out for a corner.

Impressive counter from France, delightful speed with which they attack.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:15am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:15am

15' Olise gives away a free kick

By Simon Smale

That's a bit of a nasty one from Olise, late on Rodri and it's a free kick about 25 metres from goal.

It's cagey at the moment, albeit of supremely high quality.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:11am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:11am

11' Poor free kick

By Simon Smale

That's poor from Yamal, straight into the wall.

There's still danger for France as Spain recovers the ball and whips a cross in but it's well dealt with in the end.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:09am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:09am

8' Free kick right on the edge of the penalty area

By Simon Smale

Spain are almost caught out when Olise tries to spring Mbappé up one end, but then Rabiot is guilty of stepping on the foot of Dani Olmo right on the edge of the box.

It's a definite free kick, Olmo just too quick for him.

He is arguing vehemently, and it might be that which has resulted in him being booked.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:06am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:06am

6' Corner to France

By Simon Smale

Lovely stuff from Bradley Barcola.

He gets around the outside of his man after Spain lose the ball just inside the French half - that's the speed at which they can break and the venom with which they can strike.

He wins a corner after putting a cross in from the byline, but that comes to nothing as Spain clears.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:05am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:05am

3' Great battle early on

By Simon Smale

This is tremendous stuff early doors.

France are probing but Spain are so quick at winning the ball back.

Both teams are so deliciously confident on the ball, Unai Simón just took a delightful touch to wrong-foot Mbappé inside his own six yard box as the Spanish looked to work the ball out from their own half.

France just sitting back a little in midfield as Spain enjoy some possession now, after employing a high press in their attacking third.

You get the sense they just want to spring when they get the chance.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:01am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:01am

1' Here we go

By Simon Smale

France in the traditional blue, Spain in their white change strip.

Not sure why Spain can't play in red, but there we go.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:00am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 5:00am

What was the moment's silence for?

By Simon Smale

A moment of silence first, the calm before the storm.

This is for the 10th anniversary of the attack in Nice, where a truck drove into a crowd of people resulting in the deaths of 86 people and injuries to hundreds more.

Key Event

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:56am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:56am

Who are the referees today?

By Simon Smale

Iván Barton from El Salvador today's referee.

David Moran (El Salvador) and Antonio Pupiro (Nicaragua) will run the lines, while Tomasz Kwiatkowski (Poland) will be monitoring the TVs at the International Broadcast Centre elsewhere in Dallas.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:56am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:56am

Time for the national anthems

By Simon Smale

Two of the most recognisable tunes in world sport, the Marcha Real and La Marseillaise.

We'll start with the rousing hymn of the French, roared by the fans in the stands.

The lyric-less Spanish Royal march lends itself less to being belted out, in truth, but that hasn't stopped the red-clad Spanish fans from roaring along anyway.

Looks like a tremendous atmosphere in Dallas.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:51am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:51am

Here come the players

By Simon Smale

Both teams have made their way into the tunnel.

Both teams are in white jackets over their playing strips.

Some players are greeting each other, but the vast majority are staying steely focused and locked in on the task at hand.

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:50am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:50am

France's defence isn't that bad either, to be fair...

By Simon Smale

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:48am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:48am

How do Spain stop France's tremendous trio?

By Simon Smale

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente framed today's contest as a clash of "antagonistic styles" and said his side must be wary of France's "very dangerous" transitions.

Key to whether Spain enjoys success is whether it can stop France forwards Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.

De la Fuente said there had been no shortage of homework.

"We’ve analysed them very, very thoroughly." he said.

"They have players of exceptional calibre, but so do we.

"The key is to impose our own characteristics and style, and to neutralise the opposition.

"That’s football. The more balanced side is usually closer to winning, although that’s no guarantee."

with Reuters

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:47am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:47am

Les Bleus fans in the stands

By Simon Smale

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:45am

Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:45am

Past results against Spain offer 'no particular lessons' for France

By Simon Smale

Didier Deschamps says France's past meetings with Spain offered no guarantee of how Tuesday’s match would develop.

Spain eliminated France in the Euro 2024 semifinals before beating them again in the Nations League last four in 2025.

“There are no particular lessons,” Deschamps said.

“There was one truth in those matches, with the players who were present on both sides at that time.

“The players are different now and they are not necessarily at the same level of form.

“Spain won those two matches, so congratulations to them, but what interests me is tomorrow’s game.”

It's true, but it's not just the last two matches.

Spain has beaten France 7 times in 10 matches over the last 20 years, the most times of any team over that same time period.