France 0-2 Spain: World Cup 2026 semi-final – live reaction

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>⚽ Kick-off time: 2pm local/3pm EST/8pm BST/5am AEST<br>⚽ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/jun/04/world-cup-2026-complete-player-guide">Player guide</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2026/jun/04/golden-boot-world-cup-2026-top-goalscorers-winner">Golden Boot</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/info/2022/nov/14/football-daily-email-sign-up">Football Daily</a> | <a href="mailto:scott.murray.casual@guardian.co.uk">Mail Scott</a></p><p><strong>France and Spain have only met once before at the World Cup.</strong> That was 20 years ago, back in the day when <em>Les Bleus</em> very much had <em>La Roja</em>’s number (the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2016/jun/10/france-euro-1984-tv-bbc-itv-platini">Euro 84 final</a>, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jun/26/match.sport2">Euro 2000 quarters</a>, all that).</p><p><strong>Spain have had the better of the tournament football since.</strong> Wins in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/jun/23/spain-france-euro-2012">the Euro 2012 quarters</a> and the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/09/spain-france-euro-2024-semi-final-match-report">Euro 2024 semis</a>, plus an absurd 5-4 victory in last year’s Nations League semis. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/oct/10/spain-france-nations-league-final-match-report">France did win the 2021 Nations League final, though.</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/jul/14/france-v-spain-world-cup-2026-semi-final-live">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.