France and Spain set for 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on July 14 as both win their quarterfinals
France and Spain confirmed their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal after both won their quarterfinals; France beat Morocco 2-0 and Spain beat Belgium 1-0, setting up a semifinal meeting at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday July 14 in the United States
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Summary
France and Spain both won their 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals to set up a July 14 semifinal in the United States. France defeated Morocco 2-0 and Spain beat Belgium 1-0 to advance; the two meet at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, with Kylian Mbappe leading France and Yamine Lamal carrying Spain's attack, according to USA Today and NBC Sports. The other semifinal, on the same day, will feature the winner of Argentina vs Switzerland. With France and Spain in one half of the bracket, the final would pit the winner against either Argentina or Switzerland, setting up a potential third consecutive World Cup final for Argentina.
Why it matters
France and Spain are two of the tournament's deepest squads, and a semifinal between them is likely to settle who most deserves a place in the final. France has reached three consecutive World Cup semifinals; Spain's victory over Belgium showed both its defensive solidity and its capacity to win tight matches. Whoever wins on July 14 will be heavily favoured in the final.
What to watch
- Result of Argentina vs Switzerland (July 11) to confirm the other semifinal pairing.
- Mbappe's fitness and form ahead of the July 14 match, after France's run through the knockouts.
- Which team hosts the venue advantage, as the US hosting cities differ in climate and altitude.