France and Spain advance to World Cup 2026 semifinals

France and Spain reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after defeating Morocco (2-0) and Belgium (2-1) respectively on July 10-11. The two European rivals will face each other in the first semifinal on July 14 in Dallas, while England and Argentina advanced to meet the remaining quarterfinal winner for the second semifinal.

Quick Facts

France defeated Morocco 2-0 in quarterfinal
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in quarterfinal
France and Spain advanced to semifinals
England defeated Norway in extra time
Argentina defeated Switzerland in extra time

France and Spain secured their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after contrasting quarterfinal victories on July 10-11. France defeated Morocco 2-0 in Boston, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé securing the result. Mbappé, who had missed a first-half penalty, scored his eighth goal of the tournament. The victory marked France's third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance and a repeat of their 2022 quarterfinal meeting with Morocco, which France also won before eventually losing to Argentina in the final.

Spain progressed with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. The win came after Spain topped Group H and defeated Portugal in the round of 16. France and Spain will face each other in the first semifinal on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, with the match scheduled for 12:30 am IST on July 15.

In the other quarterfinals, England defeated Norway in extra time with goals from Jude Bellingham, while Argentina beat Switzerland with a stunning extra-time strike from Julián Álvarez. England and Argentina advanced to face the winners of the remaining quarterfinal between Norway and England and Argentina and Switzerland respectively, setting up the second semifinal on July 15-16 in Atlanta. The tournament final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

France and Spain have met in major tournaments before, including a 2006 World Cup Round of 16 match won 3-1 by France and a 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal won 5-4 by Spain. France currently ranks first in the FIFA rankings, with Spain at third and Belgium at eighth. Among the semifinalists, France remains the tournament favorite, having demonstrated consistent control and clinical finishing throughout their campaign.

Topics

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Why This Matters

France and Spain's advancement reshapes the World Cup 2026 semifinal landscape: France maintains its favorite status with eight tournament goals and consistent control, while Spain's dramatic stoppage-time win over Belgium signals tactical maturity and unpredictability. The France-Spain semifinal on July 14 will be decisive—these rivals have split recent major tournaments (France won 2006; Spain won 2025 Nations League), and the winner faces either England or Argentina in the final. This result clarifies the tournament's power structure and determines which European heavyweight advances to compete for the 2026 title.

Timeline & Sources

Jul 9, 2026

Wire

France defeats Morocco 2-0 in quarterfinal in Boston; Mbappé and Dembélé score

Jul 10, 2026

Wire

Spain defeats Belgium 2-1 in quarterfinal; Merino scores in stoppage time

Jul 11, 2026

Wire

England defeats Norway in extra time; Argentina defeats Switzerland in extra time (quarterfinals)

Jul 14, 2026

Wire

France vs Spain first semifinal at AT&T Stadium, Dallas (July 15, 12:30 am IST)

Jul 19, 2026

Wire

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey