Projected Lineups: France vs Spain in 2026 World Cup Semifinal at AT&T Stadium

The semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington will see two of the tournament's strongest squads go head-to-head. France, who won in 2018 and were finalists in 2022, face off against Spain, the reigning European champions, this Tuesday.

This match highlights a rising rivalry between Kylian Mbappe, one of the joint top scorers in World Cup history alongside Lionel Messi, and the young Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal. Mbappe has been a consistent force for club and country with numerous goals and assists, but Yamal has had his measure in direct encounters at both club level with Barcelona and on the international stage.

The victor moves on to the final in New Jersey on Sunday, while the losing side will compete in the third-place match on Saturday. Yellow card counts have been reset, so players avoid suspension unless they receive a red card during the game.

France Projected Starting XI

Using a 4-2-3-1 formation (right to left):GK: Mike Maignan (16)DEF: Jules Kounde (5), Dayot Upamecano (4), William Saliba (17), Lucas Digne (3)MID: Aurelien Tchouameni (8), Adrien Rabiot (14)ATT: Ousmane Dembele (7), Michael Olise (11), Desire Doue (20)FWD: Kylian Mbappe (10)

Tchouameni missed the quarterfinals due to a thigh injury but is expected to be available for the Spain match, as reported by Loic Tanzi of L'Equipe. Mbappe also appears fit despite leaving the Morocco game with an ankle issue. Coach Didier Deschamps might consider adjusting the attack by replacing one forward with a midfielder like Manu Kone or Warren Zaire-Emery against Spain’s possession-heavy style.

Spain Projected Starting XI

Also lining up in a 4-2-3-1 (right to left):GK: Unai Simon (23)DEF: Pedro Porro (12), Pau Cubarsi (22), Aymeric Laporte (14), Marc Cucurella (24)MID: Rodri (16), Pedri (20)ATT: Lamine Yamal (19), Dani Olmo (10), Alex Baena (15)FWD: Mikel Oyarzabal (21)

Spain faces uncertainty over winger Nico Williams, sidelined for much of the tournament due to a hamstring problem. He returned briefly in the quarterfinal but probably won't start. Pedri, who was benched against Belgium, is likely to regain his place after Fabian Ruiz’s underwhelming performance despite scoring.

Match Prediction and Rosters

The prediction leans towards a narrow win for France, perhaps 2-1. Both squads bring deep talent and experience, promising an intense battle.

Viewing Information

In the US, FOX will broadcast the match nationally. Streaming is accessible through fubo, Fox One, and the Fox Sports app or website. Fans might find fubo the most convenient platform to watch the action live.

International broadcasts include TSN and RDS in Canada, ITV and STV in the UK, SBS in Australia, and Unite8 Sports with ZEE5 streaming in India.