14/07/2026 09:15 - Deportes
On July 14, 2026, a historic day for world football will unfold. France and Spain will face each other in the first semifinal of the 2026 World Cup, with a ticket to the grand final at stake. The match, according to sources, will be held in Dallas, pitting two of the most formidable powerhouses of current European football against each other.
France reached this stage after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals, while Spain overcame Belgium 2-1 in an exciting match. Both national teams have shown an exceptionally high level throughout the tournament.
The head coach of France, Didier Deschamps, surprised the press conference prior to the match by admitting that, for him, Spain is the favorite to win the 2026 World Cup.
"I confirm that Spain is the favorite. Aside from the first game against Cape Verde, the rest has confirmed what I said," stated the French coach, who with an ironic smile clarified that he was not trying to put pressure on the Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente and his team.
Deschamps especially praised La Roja's defensive performance: "It's a team that knows how to attack and defend very well, they have only conceded one goal in six matches." He also highlighted that the match "could be spectacular, due to the quality of both, due to the offensive level they possess."
One of the great attractions of the match is the personal motivation of Kylian Mbappé, who is seeking revenge after France's elimination by Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024, where La Roja won 2-1.
However, Deschamps dismissed that it is a revenge match: "It is not the same level of competition. We are consistent with the quality they have."
French midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery forcefully responded to the statements made by young Spanish star Lamine Yamal, who had claimed that France should be afraid of Spain.
"We are France and we fear no one," stated Zaïre-Emery confidently, igniting the buildup to a match that promises fire in every split ball.
The context of the match was tinged with controversy when former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy wrote in the media outlet El Debate that the French national team "plays without Frenchmen." His remarks were repudiated by the authorities of both France and Spain.
The French Embassy issued a statement clarifying that out of the 26 players in the squad, 23 were born in France and the remaining 3 (Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram, and Brice Samba) were born abroad but all hold French nationality.
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, and Minister José Manuel Albares also repudiated Rajoy's statements, which generated rejection in both countries.
Deschamps did not clarify if he will be able to count on Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was absent due to injury in the last two training sessions. "He is better, but he is not 100 percent recovered. It's a semifinal and he played his last match 15 days ago. The important thing is that he is with us," indicated the coach.
On the other hand, he ruled out any physical problems for Kylian Mbappé, who will be available for the crucial encounter.
When asked about the young Spanish star Lamine Yamal, Deschamps acknowledged his quality but emphasized that the previous match does not count: "We also have quality players. Past experience counts, but we are at a different level and in a different competition."
France and Spain will fight for a place in the final of the 2026 World Cup. The winner will face the victor of Argentina vs. England, who will play on July 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. World football is living its days of greatest splendor.
Sources: ESPN (13/07/2026), El Debate, Río Negro, Infobae.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
