As the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its semifinal stage on Tuesday, July 14, both France and Spain stand undefeated, having never trailed in any match throughout the tournament. The semifinal match in Dallas will determine which of these two unbeaten teams advances to the final.

France, led by star Kylian Mbappe, has shown confidence and humility. Midfielder Adrien Rabiot stated, “We are confident, of course, with the course we have done so far, and we have to be, but always with this humility that has characterised us since the beginning of the competition.”

Spain, featuring teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and impactful substitute Mikel Merino, also enters the semifinal with strong momentum. Spain midfielder Alex Baena reflected on the team's progress: “I think that from the first game until today, the team needed to catch the rhythm; we had been without seeing each other for a long time. With more games and practices, the better the team has been.”

Notably, Spain's recent successes include a 2-1 win in the 2024 European Championship semifinals, where Yamal scored just days shy of his 17th birthday, and a 5-4 victory in Nations League play last year.

Historically, Germany’s 1990 World Cup championship came after finishing as runners-up in the previous two tournaments, all while competing as West Germany.

The upcoming semifinal will be a pivotal moment, as only one of these two unbeaten sides can secure a spot in the 2026 final.

Sources