Blockbuster Showdown as European Champions Spain Battle Favourites France for Final Ticket
Duro Ikhazuagbe
The first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between two-time champions France and 2010 winners Spain in Arlington, Texas, promises to be a blockbuster this night as both teams parade some of the most exciting players with firepower in European football.
France who were finalists from the last edition in Qatar four years ago, have maintained clean sheet right from the group stage to this Last 4 knockout round. Les Bleus claimed maximum nine points at the group stage before knocking out Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32. Kylian Mbappe and his teammates similarly turned back Paraguay 1-0 in the Last 16 before ending last African hope at the this edition, Morocco run via a dominant 2-0 win in the quarterfinal. This is a record third consecutive semifinal for the French men who won as hosts in 1998 and in Russia in 2018.
Having come this far, will Didier Deschamps allow Spain to ruin their best chance of reaching another final where they are hoping to avenge the defeat against Argentina in Doha four years ago?
