FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain: Schedule, Semi Final, How to Watch, History & Record
Spain are 90 minutes from a second World Cup final. The FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain campaign has been near-flawless: five wins and a draw, 11 goals scored, and just one conceded. The reward is a heavyweight semi-final against France at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Luis de la Fuente’s side topped Group H without defeat, then knocked out Austria, Portugal, and Belgium.
Ranked second in the world and reigning European champions, La Roja stand one step from the final for the first time since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
World Cup 2026 Spain Semi-Final: France vs Spain
| Match | France vs Spain (Semi-Final 1) |
| Date | Tuesday, July 14, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 9:00 PM CEST / 3:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Next | Winner faces England or Argentina in the final |
It is the first World Cup semi-final line-up ever made up of the top four teams in the FIFA rankings. The other semi-final, England vs Argentina, follows on Wednesday, July 15 at Atlanta Stadium.
The final kicks off at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM ET (9:00 PM CEST), with the third-place match in Miami on Saturday, July 18.
Recent history favours Spain. They beat France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final, the night Lamine Yamal scored from 30 yards, and edged a nine-goal thriller 5-4 in the 2025 Nations League semi-final.
Spain World Cup 2026 Schedule and Results
| Date | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | Group H | Cape Verde | 0-0 (D) |
| June 21 | Group H | Saudi Arabia | 4-0 (W) |
| June 26 | Group H | Uruguay | 1-0 (W) |
| July 2 | Round of 32 | Austria | 3-0 (W) |
| July 6 | Round of 16 | Portugal | 1-0 (W) |
| July 10 | Quarter-final | Belgium | 2-1 (W) |
| July 14 | Semi-final | France | 9:00 PM CEST / 3:00 PM ET |
Spain won Group H with seven points. After a goalless opener against Cape Verde, Lamine Yamal and a Mikel Oyarzabal double powered the 4-0 rout of Saudi Arabia, and Álex Baena’s strike against Uruguay sealed top spot, sending La Celeste home while Cape Verde advanced in second.
In the knockouts, Oyarzabal scored twice more against Austria, Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring against Belgium, and Mikel Merino’s late winners settled both the Portugal and Belgium ties.
How to Watch World Cup 2026 Spain
RTVE holds free-to-air rights in Spain, showing 34 matches in total. La 1 broadcasts every Spain match, including the July 14 semi-final against France, as well as the other semi-final, the third-place play-off, and the final. All of it streams live and free on RTVE Play across browsers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, with no subscription needed.
For complete coverage, DAZN carries every match live with a paid subscription, with 70 of the 104 games exclusive to the platform and also accessible through Movistar Plus+. In the United States, the semi-final airs on Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming on Peacock.
How to Stream World Cup 2026 Spain
| Platform | Language | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTVE Play | Spanish | Free | All Spain matches + semi-finals and final |
| DAZN | Spanish | Paid subscription | All 104 matches, live and on demand |
| FIFA+ | Multiple | Free | Highlights and replays |
| Peacock (US) | Spanish (Telemundo) | Paid subscription | Streams US semi-final and final coverage |
How to Listen to World Cup 2026 Spain
In Spain, the country’s major sports radio networks, led by Cadena SER and COPE, carry live commentary, build-up, and reaction around every La Roja fixture.
For Spanish-language radio in the United States, Fútbol de Primera holds the exclusive rights and airs its La Radio del Mundial coverage across TelevisaUnivision stations.
Spain World Cup History & Record
Spain spent decades as the World Cup’s great underachievers until South Africa 2010 changed everything. Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner against the Netherlands in Johannesburg ended a 76-year wait and crowned the most dominant era in Spanish football, a run that also delivered Euro 2008, Euro 2012, and later Euro 2024. Before that title, their best finish was fourth place in 1950.
Tournament Results
| Year | Host | Stage | W | D | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Italy | Quarter-finals | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1950 | Brazil | 4th place | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1962 | Chile | Group stage | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1966 | England | Group stage | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1978 | Argentina | Group stage | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | Spain | Second group stage | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 1986 | Mexico | Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | Italy | Round of 16 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | USA | Quarter-finals | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 | France | Group stage | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Quarter-finals | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | Germany | Round of 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | South Africa | Champions | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | Brazil | Group stage | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 | Russia | Round of 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 | Qatar | Group stage | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2026 | USA/Mexico/Canada | Semi-finals (in progress) | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Overall Record
| Stat | Total (through 2026 quarter-finals) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 |
| Matches Played | 73 |
| Wins | 36 |
| Draws | 18 |
| Losses | 19 |
| Goals For | 119 |
| Goals Against | 76 |
| Best Finish | Champions (2010) |
Key Records
Spain are one of just eight nations to have won the FIFA World Cup, and their 36 wins from 73 matches make them one of the most consistent sides in tournament history.
This edition has added new landmarks: Lamine Yamal became the eighth-youngest scorer in World Cup history against Saudi Arabia, and goalkeeper Unai Simón kept five straight clean sheets before conceding his first goal of the tournament against Belgium.
Spain vs France: Semi-Final Analysis and Prediction
France arrive as the tournament’s form team: six wins from six, 16 goals scored, and only two conceded. Kylian Mbappé sits level with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland on eight goals in the Golden Boot race, while Michael Olise has been the creative engine linking midfield and attack. Spain’s route has been grittier, but no side has controlled games better.
That control starts with Rodri. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has anchored midfield superbly after an injury-hit club season, with Pedri linking play around him. The midfield battle decides this tie: if Spain dictate the tempo, France’s transition game loses its fuel. And in Mikel Merino, De la Fuente holds the tournament’s best trump card. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench to score the winner in both the Round of 16 and the quarter-final.
The wings are trending in the right direction. Yamal has started every match since the opener, and his duel with left-back Lucas Digne is the matchup France fear most, even if he has yet to hit top gear. Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino have recovered from their mid-tournament injuries and are available again, though Álex Baena and Dani Olmo have made strong cases to keep their places. Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s top scorer with four goals, leads the line, while Simón faces his biggest test of the summer against Mbappé and company.
The verdict? A coin-flip between the world’s top two ranked teams, but Spain’s midfield control, Merino’s late-game impact, and their recent head-to-head edge over France make La Roja narrow favourites to reach the July 19 final.
Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 FAQs
When is Spain’s World Cup 2026 semi-final against France?
Spain play France in the semi-final on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kick-off is 9:00 PM CEST in Spain (3:00 PM ET). The winner faces England or Argentina in the final on July 19.
How did Spain reach the 2026 World Cup semi-final?
Spain won Group H unbeaten, drawing 0-0 with Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0. In the knockout rounds they defeated Austria 3-0, Portugal 1-0, and Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-final.
How can I watch Spain vs France for free?
In Spain, RTVE broadcasts the semi-final free-to-air on La 1, with free live streaming on RTVE Play. In the United States, the match airs on Fox in English and Telemundo in Spanish, with streaming available on Peacock.
Who has scored Spain’s goals at the 2026 World Cup?
Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spain with four goals. Mikel Merino has scored decisive late winners against Portugal and Belgium, while Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena, and Fabián Ruiz have also found the net.
Who is Spain’s head coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Luis de la Fuente, in charge since December 2022. He led Spain to the Euro 2024 title and has now taken La Roja through the 2026 World Cup unbeaten into the semi-finals.
When and where is the 2026 World Cup final?
The final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, kicking off at 3:00 PM ET (9:00 PM CEST). The third-place match takes place in Miami on Saturday, July 18.
Have Spain ever won the FIFA World Cup?
Yes. Spain won their only World Cup in 2010 in South Africa, beating the Netherlands 1-0 in the final through Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time goal. A win over France would send them to their second final.
Unbeaten, barely breached, and driven by a core that has already won at the highest level, World Cup 2026 Spain has been everything the pre-tournament hype promised.
Beat France in Dallas, and this golden generation stands one match from a second star above the crest, sixteen years after Iniesta’s night in Johannesburg.
