Kathmandu, July 14: France and Spain will face off in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, with a coveted place in the final at stake. The match will be played at Dallas Stadium, kicking off at 12:45 AM NST.
Both teams head into the encounter determined to secure a spot in the World Cup final. France booked their place in the last four with a convincing 2-0 victory over Morocco, the runners-up of the Africa Cup of Nations, marking their third consecutive World Cup semi-final appearance. Spain, meanwhile, edged past Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals to continue their impressive campaign.
Both sides remain unbeaten in the tournament. France have won all six of their matches, while Spain have recorded five wins and one draw. Spain are currently ranked second in the FIFA World Rankings, with France sitting third.
France will also be seeking revenge after suffering defeats to Spain in their previous two knockout meetings. Spain defeated France 2-1 in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals before edging them 5-4 in the UEFA Nations League 2025 semi-finals. Les Bleus will be eager to turn the tables and book their place in the World Cup final.
Spain, on the other hand, have reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2010 and are aiming to qualify for only their second-ever World Cup final.
The winner of Tuesday’s semi-final will face the victor of the second semi-final between Argentina and England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
