In Arlington, Texas, Kylian Mbappé and the French national soccer team have maintained an unbeaten record in this year’s World Cup. Spain, featuring rising star Lamine Yamal and the decisive substitute Mikel Merino, shares that achievement. On Tuesday, both teams will clash, marking their second-ever World Cup encounter. The match will take place at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, AT&T Stadium, in the first of two semifinal matches.
France entered the tournament as the FIFA top-ranked team and boasts a dominant record, having outscored opponents 14-2. Mbappé leads the scoring charts with eight goals, level with Lionel Messi, and is trailing the Argentine captain’s World Cup career record by just one goal. France’s midfielder Adrien Rabiot emphasized their confidence tempered with humility: “We are confident, of course, with the course we have done so far, and we have to be,” he said.
Mbappé, at age 27, has scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches. He made history by being the second teenager, after Pele, to score in a World Cup final, achieving this feat in the 2018 win over Croatia. Coach Didier Deschamps confirmed Mbappé’s fitness after he was subbed out in the 77th minute against Morocco in the quarterfinal.
Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 recently, has played a crucial role in Spain’s two semifinal victories over France. He notably scored just before turning 17 during the 2024 European Championship semifinals. Yamal expressed confidence after Spain’s quarterfinal triumph over Belgium: “I believe if France has to fear anyone, it should be us.” Despite a hamstring injury, Yamal has been effective with one goal and ten shots on target during this World Cup.
France defender Jules Koundé, who plays alongside Yamal at Barcelona, took Yamal’s confidence in stride. “He trusts a lot in his virtues,” Koundé noted. Spain, after a scoreless draw with Cape Verde, moved forward by scoring decisive goals with Merino playing a pivotal role. The goaltender Unai Simón set a World Cup record by not conceding for 650 minutes before Belgium scored in their quarterfinal.
Spain’s midfielder Alex Baena explained the team’s progress: “The team needed to catch the rhythm, we had been without seeing each other for a long time.” Merino’s goals proved decisive, with the latest coming in the 88th minute against Belgium. Previously, he scored in stoppage time for a 1-0 win over Portugal in the same stadium where Spain’s semifinal will be held.
The semifinal features each of the four remaining teams as past champions, marking a first since 1990. The other semifinal match pits Argentina, the 2022 winners, against England in Atlanta. Sunday’s championship match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a third-place game at Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday.
In their only prior World Cup meeting, France defeated Spain 3-1 in the 2006 tournament. Since then, both teams have lifted the trophy, with Spain winning in 2010 and France claiming victory in 2018. On Bastille Day, France aims to join Brazil and Germany as the only teams to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.
AT&T Stadium in North Texas hosts its ninth game of the tournament, having witnessed historic soccer moments, including Messi’s World Cup career scoring record against Austria. Cristiano Ronaldo also concluded his World Cup journey in this venue as Portugal faced Spain.
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