# World Cup Semifinal Showdown: Mbappe’s France Meets Yamal’s Spain in Arlington Today
**ARLINGTON, Texas** — The World Cup returns to North Texas one final time this afternoon as two of international soccer’s most storied programs collide for a spot in Sunday’s championship match. France, the tournament’s top-ranked squad, takes on third-ranked Spain at Dallas Stadium in a semifinal billed as a genuine clash of titans, with the winner advancing to face either England or Argentina in New Jersey.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT) at the Arlington venue, which has emerged as an unlikely hub for this year’s tournament. ,This marks the ninth and final World Cup match hosted in North Texas., Notably, ,the matchup falls on Bastille Day, France’s national holiday,, adding extra symbolism for Les Bleus as they chase a spot in soccer’s grandest stage.
## A Rematch Years in the Making
While France and Spain have squared off just once previously in World Cup competition — ,France defeated Spain 3-1 in the 2006 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, — the two nations have developed a fierce recent rivalry outside the tournament. ,Spain actually holds the historical edge, having won six of the last 10 meetings between the two countries, including victories over France in the 2024 UEFA Euro semifinals and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.,
That history looms large for Spain’s rising star. ,Lamine Yamal has already factored into two semifinal victories over France, having scored in a 2-1 win during the 2024 Euro semifinals when he was just days from turning 17, before Spain beat Les Bleus again in Nations League play last year., The teenager, who just celebrated his 19th birthday, didn’t mince words heading into Tuesday’s rematch. ,”I believe if France has to fear anyone, it should be us,” Yamal said following Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium, adding, “We were the ones that knocked them out before.”,
## France’s Dominant Run
Didier Deschamps’ side has been nearly untouchable throughout the tournament. ,France topped its group with a perfect nine points over Senegal, Iraq and Norway, then rolled through the knockout rounds without conceding a goal — beating Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, edging Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, and defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals.,
Much of that success traces back to Kylian Mbappe, who ,scored his eighth goal of the tournament against Morocco, drawing him level with Lionel Messi atop the Golden Boot race, while also setting up Ousmane Dembele for France’s second goal., The 27-year-old striker’s tournament résumé is staggering — ,Mbappe now has 20 goals across 20 career World Cup matches, a total that includes a goal in the 2018 final win over Croatia when he joined Pele as one of only two teenagers to score on that stage., Should he find the net again Tuesday, he would match Messi for the all-time World Cup scoring record. Support has come from elsewhere in the attack as well, with ,Ousmane Dembele contributing four goals of his own, including a first-half hat trick against Norway during group play.,
## Spain’s Late-Game Heroics
Spain’s path to Dallas has been more dramatic, relying on clutch moments from an unlikely source. ,Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute off a rebound following a save by Belgium’s backup goalkeeper, lifting Spain to a 2-1 quarterfinal victory on Friday., That victory continued a pattern for the Spanish squad — ,while Spain has outscored opponents 10-1 since a scoreless draw against Cape Verde opened group play, the team has repeatedly needed late goals from Merino in each of its last two matches to advance.,
Yamal, meanwhile, has drawn heavy defensive attention despite a modest goal tally. ,He has scored just once this tournament while putting 10 shots on target, all while managing a lingering left hamstring issue that sidelined him for the final weeks of the club season with Barcelona., Elsewhere on the roster, ,Mikel Oyarzabal has paced Spain’s scoring with four goals of his own.,
## What’s at Stake
The magnitude of Tuesday’s contest extends beyond a single match. ,France is attempting to become just the third nation — joining five-time champion Brazil and four-time winner Germany — to reach three consecutive World Cup finals., For Spain, the moment is historic in its own right, as ,the team returns to a World Cup semifinal for the first time since claiming the trophy in 2010.,
Ticket demand has cooled somewhat following the U.S. team’s tournament exit, though seats remain far from cheap. ,Prices for the cheapest available tickets to the Dallas semifinal have fallen 60% since the United States was eliminated in the round of 16, though costs remain steep.,
Whichever team emerges victorious will travel to New Jersey for Sunday’s championship match, taking on the winner of Wednesday’s Atlanta semifinal between England and Argentina. For North Texas soccer fans, Tuesday’s match marks the region’s final taste of World Cup action — a fitting send-off featuring two nations with legitimate championship pedigree and a budding rivalry that has produced high drama at every turn.