All eyes on Dallas for the first of the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. 

It’s France versus Spain, two of the best teams in the world and many people’s pair of favourites for glory. 

Only one will advance to Sunday’s final, where they will face England or Argentina in New Jersey. 

Kick-off is at 8pm, with the action live in all the usual spots, but if you’re out and about enjoying the sunshine, we’ll keep you up to date right here.

Team news

😤 The time has come.

Here are the 11 French players who will take on Spain for a spot in the World Cup final 💙
pic.twitter.com/yspVuSKYuU

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) July 14, 2026

🚨 OFFICIAL | Our XI to face France

The mission is clear.
Let's earn our place in the World Cup Final. ❤️🇪🇸#VamosEspaña | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DumUTDWLO8

— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 14, 2026

Aurelien Tchouameni was named in France’s starting line-up for Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final clash against Spain while coach Didier Deschamps recalled Bradley Barcola to start on the left flank.

Midfielder Tchouameni returns to Les Bleus‘ line-up after a two-game absence as France aim to reach a third consecutive World Cup final.

Barcola takes his place in France’s star-studded front four ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Desiree Doue.

Barcola lines up on the left side of the front three with Michael Olise in the centre and Ousmane Dembele on the right flank, with captain Kylian Mbappe the striker.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente meanwhile named an unchanged starting line-up for the game at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

De la Fuente has kept faith with the team that defeated Belgium 2-1 in Friday’s quarter-final in Los Angeles.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz gets the nod ahead of Barcelona’s Pedri to partner Rodri at the base of the Spanish midfield.

Lamine Yamal takes his usual position on the right wing, with Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena on the opposite flank. Dani Olmo is in the middle behind striker Mikel Oyarzabal.

– © AFP 2026

Our man David Sneyd is on the ground in Dallas, and here’s his pre-match preview.

• Latest chapter of Mbappé-Yamal chronicles will shine light on World Cup destiny

Spain's Lamine Yamal (left) and France's Kylian Mbappe.

As the anthems ring out at a packed AT&T Stadium, it’s time for the big question. 

Who will win and progress to the 2026 World Cup final?

And for added fun, how will they do it?

KICK-OFF - Spain, wearing their white strip, get us underway.

France 0-0 Spain

1 min - Spain knock the ball around from kick-off, and try to launch their first attack, but Cucurella’s ball in behind is overhit.

France 0-0 Spain 

3 mins - Early nerves here with errant touches as the ball is turned over and back. 

Huge roar as Yamal gets his first touch, but France intercept shortly after and look to break.

France 0-0 Spain 

5 mins – France are turned over, and so too Spain at the other end. Les Bleus are happy to sit off and let Spain play the ball around, before picking their moment and countering. Barcola has just won the first corner of the game.

France 0-0 Spain 

8 mins – Olise’s delivery is headed clear, and Rabiot’s effort from outside the box is poor and wayward. 

Dembele is robbed by Rodri, Yamal’s pocket picked and France again try to counter quickly but they’re cut out. 

Referee awards a free-kick after a Rabiot challenge on Olmo. He’s booked, and Spain have a set-piece from a promising position on the edge of the box, towards the right.

France 0-0 Spain 

10 mins – Baena’s free-kick effort is straight at the wall, but Yamal picks up possession and sends a decent cross in, which a French defender heads clear.

France 0-0 Spain 

13 mins – So far, it has generally been Spain dominating possession and France looking to catch them on the counter. Spain are well organised, with Laporte defending well, while Rodri has started brightly as he continues a superb tournament. 

France 0-0 Spain 

15 mins – Olise catches Rodri with a poor tackle, and Spain go quickly from the free-kick. They move the ball around and out to the left but Baena’s delivery is disappointing and intercepted. 

France again counter at speed, Dembele finding Mbappe, and the Real Madrid star looks threatening, but Spain do enough.

France 0-0 Spain 

18 mins – France continue their decent spell as they enjoy more of the ball and look to muster something up in the final third, but ultimately, it amounts to nothing.

Spain are back in control, and Cucurella teases another ball in behind, but Upamecano wins the battle to see it out.

PENALTY FOR SPAIN!

Digne kicks Yamal as he tries to clear a harmless Cucurella delivery. He seems to know nothing about it – there are protestations though, has the ball hit Yamal’s hand?

Penalty going ahead…

GOAL! Spain 1-0 France (Oyarzabal, 22 mins)

Superb penalty. Cool, calm, collected – no stutter, and slammed home. 

Oyarzabal slots right, ‘keeper goes the right way but isn’t getting there. 

The Real Sociedad man brings his goal tally to five for the tournament.

Straight to the hydration break, advantage Spain and time for France to come out and play.

Here’s the Oyarzabal penalty that has Spain 1-0 up…

pic.twitter.com/Sua9x0wywc

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 14, 2026

France 0-1 Spain 

28 mins – We’re back underway and Saliba is down injured. It looks like his night could be over.

France sub – Lacroix for Saliba.

A blow for Les Bleus as their centre-back partnership is broken up, the Arsenal star limping off.

France 0-1 Spain 

31 mins - Second yellow card of the game as Cucurella goes in the book for a challenge on Olise. 

Dembele’s free-kick from distance is comfortably claimed by Simon.

France 0-1 Spain 

33 mins - Possession turned over on both sides, Spain with a pair of quick-fire attacks. 

Cucurella’s latest cross is dealt with by Upamecano, then Olmo’s shot is from way out and way off target.

France 0-1 Spain 

35 mins – Simon goes long from the kick-out, trying to find Baena ghosting in behind, but he’s pinged for offside after a coming together in the box.

Barcola blazes over at the other end, showing quick feet as he cuts in from the left but lifts over. Good work from Dembele in the build-up, better from France.

France 0-1 Spain 

38 mins - Ooooft. The best passage of the half so far, Spain pouncing on a poor Maignan restart and turning on the style. Yamal is unselfish in the end, trying to square to Oyarzabal but a French body gets a vital block in.

Just beforehand, Pedro Porro tried his luck from range, but it was well off target. 

France 0-1 Spain 

40 mins - Two tight French offsides as they eventually get out of their half, Mbappé cutting a frustrated figure. All he needs is one moment…

France 0-1 Spain 

42 mins - And there it nearly is! 

Decisive goalkeeping from Simon as he gets out to stop Mbappe as he gets on the end of a long ball. Let-off for Spain.

France 0-1 Spain 

45 minutes - The referee awards a harsh-looking free to France on the edge of the box, but it’s overturned.

Whistles around the stadium shortly after as Rabiot lunges in – he’s on a yellow – but the Frenchman goes unpunished.

Six minutes added on.

France 0-1 Spain 

45 mins + 3 – France upping the ante as half-time approaches, Kounde with a dangerous ball in from the right but Dembele can’t get there. Rabiot is then pinged for offside.

They’re pressing on, looking for that all-important equaliser.

France 0-1 Spain 

45 mins + 5 – Dembele is closed down by Baena and Cucurella, and France will go in trailing at half-time.

HT: France 0-1 Spain

Alamy Stock Photo. Alamy Stock Photo.

So advantage Spain at half-time, the European champions leading 1-0 thanks to Mikel Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute penalty. 

It came after Digne caught Yamal with a stray boot as he attempted to clear a harmless delivery, and was the only shot on target.

France have been off colour, sloppy in possession and failing to fire. Spain have been better in a strange, stop-start game, with Yamal impressing.

A huge second half awaits.

Here’s another look at the Spain penalty – not sure it uploaded correctly earlier, apologies!

First blood goes to Spain. Mikel Oyarzabal makes no mistake from 12 yards out to give his side the lead in Dallas.

Watch all 104 games from the Fifa World Cup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/3oP3gl8VRE

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 14, 2026

France HT sub - Koné for Rabiot.

France 0-1 Spain 

45 mins - France get us going again.

France 0-1 Spain 

48 mins - France start on the front foot, Laporte steps up with a big interception to stop a ball finding Mbappé in behind. 

Olise is muscled off the ball by Cucurella – the Bayern Munich star has been having a sub-standard game given the insanely high standards he has set for himself at this tournament.

France 0-1 Spain 

48 mins – France have been enjoying most of the ball since the restart, but their frustrations remain. 

Yamal goes down grabbing his boot but he’s back up and at it. Oyarzabal is now on the deck.

France 0-1 Spain 

50 mins – Yamal is played in and the goal looks on, but he’s smothered by Maignan. The flag is up, and that’s that. Spain on the hunt again as their confidence grows.

France 0-1 Spain 

51 mins – Another Spanish half-chance, but Oyarzabal lifts over.

Usain Bolt and Noah Lyles pop up on the live feed, the past and present of elite sprinting.

France 0-1 Spain 

53 mins – Deschamps then flashes up, he doesn’t look happy at all. 

Upamecano has just put Maignan under pressure with a poor backpass, while Yamal is causing the French defence serious problems. 

Les Bleus probe at the other end, but it’s just not happening for Dembele – and many others – tonight.

France 0-1 Spain 

55 mins - Simon and Porro do well to cut out a French threat, no way through for Barcola on this occasion. 

It looks like Doué is getting ready to come on…

France sub - Doué for Barcola.

GOAL! Spain 2-0 France (Porro, 58 mins)

Spain double their lead!!! A lovely move, finished off by Pedro Porro. 

The Spurs full-back combines with Olmo, who thinks he’s fouled, and the ball breaks back to Porro who shows brilliant composure to finish one on one.

France 0-2 Spain 

DISALLOWED SPAIN GOAL - Yamal thinks it’s game, set, match when he curls into the back of the net, but he’s pinged for offside. 62 minutes gone.

France 0-2 Spain 

63 mins - Oohs and aahs as Yamal back heels, Spain knocking the ball around with real confidence and purpose as they enjoy some breathing space.

France 0-2 Spain 

65 mins - Mbappé forces Simon into a save on his near-hand post, the France superstar dancing in the box and firing a shot in anger. They follow up with another poor corner, the moment for more pressure passing.

France 0-2 Spain 

68 mins – CLOSE! Mbappé lets fire, his shot takes a wicked deflection of Cucurella and flashes just wide.

They go quick with the corner, but ultimately get nowhere. A probing long ball for Yamal is brilliantly cut out by French keeper Maignon, waaaaay off his line as he looks to get his side going again.

Here’s Spain’s second goal, scored by Porro…

Spain double their lead; a quick one-two between Poro and Olmo puts the right back in on goal and he makes no mistake

Watch all 104 games from the Fifa World Cup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/VJBxAOyRNX

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 14, 2026

Time for hydration break number two.

France subs – Cherki and Hernandez for Olise and Digne. 

That’s their five changes made, Spain yet to use their bench.

France 0-2 Spain 

72 mins - We’re back after those changes, as France go in desperate search of a goal.

Spain sub - Ferran Torres for Oyarzabal.

Torres’ first touch is in an offside position.

France 0-2 Spain 

75 mins - Doué eases past Yamal but there’s too much on his scooped pass for Mbappé and it trickles over the endline.

Attendance of just over 70,000 announced to a huge cheer.

France 0-2 Spain 

77 mins – Yamal lunges in on Mbappé, and Dembele’s delivery from the subsequent free-kick is encouraging but there’s a free out awarded for a foul on Rodri.

Spain subs - Pedri and Merino for Ruiz and Olmo.

France 0-2 Spain 

78 mins – CLOSE! Torres heads wide after more impressive play from Spain, Pedri straight into the action and looking to be positive.

France 0-2 Spain 

80 mins - Simon cuts out a low Hernandez cross from the left. The Spanish ‘keeper has been very good tonight.

France are running out of ideas as time ticks away.

France 0-2 Spain 

82 mins - NERVY! Simon comes out of his box to win a header, a goal opportunity presents itself but the Spanish keeper redeems himself to cut Doué’s shot out. 

He’s down holding his face now after a coming together with Herndnandez, a spell of French pressure here as they try to pull one back. 

Spain subs - Llorente and Williams for Porro and Baena.

France 0-2 Spain 

85 mins – Kitchen sink time now for France, says Des Cahill on RTÉ.

Good opportunity from a free-kick, but Dembele’s delivery is woeful. 

France 0-2 Spain 

86 mins - Yellow card for Mbappé for jumping in on Simon, frustration boiling over.

France 0-2 Spain 

87 mins - Doué is fouled by Yamal on the edge of the box, and France have a decent opportunity to set up a grandstand finish…

France 0-2 Spain

88 mins – Mbappé lifts the free-kick over the bar, nowhere near the target.

France 0-2 Spain

89 mins – Spanish calls at the other end as Yamal hits the deck in the area after a tangle with Hernandez. 

Last chance saloon for France now, Spain sitting deep. Cucurella with a crucial interception in the box. 

Seven minutes added on.

France 0-2 Spain

90 mins +1 – Spain hold firm, celebrating that Cucurella interception as he holds off Mbappé. Every pass being cheered with an olé now.

France 0-2 Spain

90 mins +4 – Nico Williams goes for goal from a tight angle, but he can only find the sidenetting. Dembele stings Simon’s gloves at the other end.

France 0-2 Spain

90 mins +6 – The olés continue around Spanish passes as they play keep ball. 

France win it back, Doué finding Dembele with a fine cross field pass, but the latter’s shot is parried away by Simon.

Mbappé lets fly… nada.

FT: France 0-2 Spain 

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

So that’s that in Dallas – Spain are the first side into the 2026 World Cup final after beating France 2-0. 

The European champions controlled the game on and off the ball to send the tournament favourites packing.

Goals in either half from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro see them into their first World Cup final since 2010.

France were really poor, and exit with a whimper as their star-studded attack failed to fire.

The other finalist will need to confirmed tomorrow when Argentina continue their title defence against England.

Who will join Spain in the 2026 World Cup final?

That’s all for our live coverage this evening, but we’ll have a match report on The 42 imminently while David Sneyd will also file a piece from Dallas. Vamos!

Thanks so much for joining me this evening.

Goodnight!