Projected Lineups for France vs. Spain in 2026 World Cup Semifinal at Dallas

The semifinal stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup sets up a thrilling encounter between two top-tier teams: 2018 champions and 2022 finalists France take on the reigning European champions Spain. This showdown will happen at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Tuesday.

The spotlight falls on the emerging rivalry between Kylian Mbappe, who shares the record as the tournament's joint top scorer with Lionel Messi, and the young Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal. Mbappe has shown superior stats over time, scoring and assisting frequently for club and country, yet Yamal has had the upper hand in their direct matches both for Barcelona and Spain.

The victor will move on to the final scheduled for Sunday in New Jersey. The losing side will compete for third place on Saturday.

France's Expected Starting Lineup

Playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation from right to left, France is likely to field:

• Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan (16)
• Defenders: Jules Kounda (5), Dayot Upamecano (4), William Saliba (17), Lucas Digne (3)
• Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni (8), Adrien Rabiot (14)
• Attacking Midfielders/Wingers: Ousmane Dembele (7), Michael Olise (11), Desire Doue (20)
• Forward: Kylian Mbappe (10)

Tchouameni, sidelined by a thigh injury during the quarterfinal against Morocco, is expected to be fit according to reports from Loic Tanzi of L'Equipe. Mbappe also appeared to have recovered from an ankle issue sustained late in that game and should start. Coach Didier Deschamps may consider adjusting his attacking setup given Spain’s possession style, possibly swapping an attacker for an extra midfielder such as Manu Kone or Warren Zaire-Emery.

Spain's Likely Starting XI

Spain also employs a 4-2-3-1 system with the lineup anticipated as:

• Goalkeeper: Unai Simon (23)
• Defenders: Pedro Porro (12), Pau Cubarsi (22), Aymeric Laporte (14), Marc Cucurella (24)
• Midfielders: Rodri (16), Pedri (20)
• Attacking Midfielders/Wingers: Lamine Yamal (19), Dani Olmo (10), Alex Baena (15)
• Forward: Mikel Oyarzabal (21)

Spain enters this match without injury concerns or suspensions. The availability of Nico Williams remains uncertain due to a hamstring injury, limiting his playing time recently. Pedri, who was rested in the quarterfinals in favor of Fabian Ruiz, is expected to return to the starting lineup after Ruiz’s underwhelming performance despite scoring.

Match Prediction and Viewing Information

We think the scoreline might end 2-1 in favor of France, but Spain’s skill could make it very close.

In the United States, the match will air nationally on FOX with live streams available via fubo, Fox One, and the Fox Sports app or website. Other regions have coverage through various channels and streaming services, including TSN in Canada, ITV in the UK, SBS in Australia, and Unite8 Sports in India.

Team Rosters at a Glance

France's squad features stars like Mike Maignan, Jules Kounda, Dayot Upamecano, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Kylian Mbappe, led by coach Didier Deschamps.

Spain's roster includes Unai Simon, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Pedri, and the rising star Lamine Yamal, guided by Luis de la Fuente.