France vs. Spain: The 2026 World Cup Semifinal You Can’t Miss!

Based on reporting from CNN Español

Imagine the two best builders in your class going head-to-head to see who gets to build the biggest tower ever. That’s kind of what’s happening in soccer! The first semifinal (a big game to decide who gets to go to the final round) of the 2026 World Cup (a huge tournament where countries play each other) will be a super exciting face-off between France and Spain. These are the two strongest teams from Europe in the last few decades.

Important Point: The winner of this game gets a golden ticket to play in the huge final match of the tournament, which happens on Sunday!

Where is the Game Happening?

The game will be played in a giant soccer field called a stadium. Here are the simple details:

• Stadium: Dallas Stadium
• City & Country: Arlington, Texas, in the United States (USA)

When Can You Watch It?

Depending on where you live, the game starts at different clock times (because the Earth is round and the sun hits different places at different times!). Here is a simple list of when to tune in:

• Miami: 3 p.m. (afternoon)
• Los Angeles: 12 p.m. (noon)
• Mexico City: 1 p.m. (afternoon)
• Bogotá: 2 p.m. (afternoon)
• Buenos Aires: 4 p.m. (afternoon)
• Madrid: 9 p.m. (night)

How to Watch on TV or Online

You don’t need to be at the stadium to watch! You can turn on your TV or use an app. Here is where to find it based on your country:

• United States: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo, and Peacock
• Mexico: Canal 5, Azteca 7, Canal Nueve, TUDN, and ViX
• Colombia: DSports, RCN TV, and Win Sports
• Argentina: Televisión Pública, Flow, DirecTV Sports, DGO, Disney+, and Paramount+
• Spain: La 1, Teledeporte, and RTVE Play

Who Are the Players? (Possible Lineups)

Think of a "lineup" as the list of players who will start the game on the field, like picking your starting toys for a game. The "Coach" (also called DT, which means Director Técnico or team boss in Spanish) is the person who picks the players.

France’s Starting Team and Coach

• Goalkeeper (the player who guards the net): Mike Maignan
• Defenders (they block the other team): Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne
• Midfielders (they run in the middle): Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot
• Forwards (they try to score goals): Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Kylian Mbappé
• Coach (Team Boss): Didier Deschamps

Spain’s Starting Team and Coach

• Goalkeeper: Unai Simón
• Defenders: Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella
• Midfielders: Rodri, Pedri
• Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena, Mikel Oyarzabal
• Coach (Team Boss): Luis de la Fuente

Summary

To wrap it up like a neat little package: France and Spain—two of Europe’s soccer giants—are playing a super important 2026 World Cup semifinal game at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The winner goes to the big final on Sunday! You can watch it on different TV channels depending on your country, and we even know the likely players who will start the match. Get your snacks ready!

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What is a "semifinal" in the World Cup?
A semifinal is like a checkpoint before the very last game. Only two teams play each other, and the one who wins gets to go to the "final" (the championship game) to try to win the whole tournament.

2. Why is this France vs. Spain game such a big deal?
Because both France and Spain have been the strongest and best soccer teams in Europe for many years. Watching them play each other is like watching two superheroes race!

3. What happens after this game?
The winner will move on to play in the "gran final" (grand final) of the 2026 World Cup, which will be played on Sunday. The loser goes home.

4. Do I have to be in the USA to watch the game?
No! The article tells us which TV channels and streaming apps (like Disney+ or Peacock) will show the game in many countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, and the USA.

5. Who is Kylian Mbappé?
He is one of the forwards (goal scorers) for the French team. He is very fast and famous, kind of like a star player you’d want on your team!