Spain’s Lamine Yamal warns France ahead of World Cup semi-final

By Arjun Nair / 11.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 11 July 2026 — 3 min read

Spain teenager Lamine Yamal has issued a confident message to France ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final match. Following Spain’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium, Yamal stated that France should be concerned about facing his team, citing Spain’s recent successes against them.

The upcoming semi-final will see the two European teams compete for a spot in the World Cup final. Yamal’s remarks came after Mikel Merino scored the winning goal for Spain against Belgium, following Fabián Ruiz’s opener and Charles De Ketelaere’s equaliser.

Spain’s confidence and past encounters

Yamal dismissed suggestions that Spain should approach the semi-final cautiously. He told reporters, “If France should fear anyone, it’s us.” The Barcelona winger highlighted that Spain has eliminated France previously and defeated them twice, referring to matches in Euro 2024 and the 2024-25 Nations League. He expressed belief that both are the best teams in the World Cup and that Spain has no fear.

The 18-year-old’s confidence stems from Spain’s recent record against Les Bleus. La Roja eliminated France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals and then secured another victory in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. These results mean France has not beaten Spain since before those encounters. The semi-final will mark the third competitive meeting between the two nations in the last three years, intensifying their rivalry.

Spain has progressed through the tournament without a defeat. Their quarter-final win over Belgium extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches since a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in March 2024. During this period, they have recorded 27 wins and nine draws. While their path has been successful, Yamal noted that opponents often adopt a cautious approach against them. He added that despite appearances, securing the win is the most important aspect, and the team is eager to reach the final.

Yamal, who will turn 19 on Monday, has contributed one goal in his six World Cup appearances and plays a key creative role in Luis de la Fuente’s offensive strategy.

Coaches’ perspectives and upcoming match

Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, echoed Yamal’s confidence while acknowledging the challenge France presents. De la Fuente stated that expectations are high for the upcoming game and that while aware of France’s potential, Spain is confident in their ability to win. He recalled their previous successful semi-final encounter against France, anticipating a demanding and energetic match that will require Spain’s best performance.

De la Fuente also suggested that the respect is mutual, believing France is equally apprehensive. He highlighted that Spain is the only team to have beaten France twice in a row, setting the stage for a clash between two formidable teams. France arrives at the semi-final with an equally strong record, having won all six of their matches in the tournament. Didier Deschamps’ side secured maximum points in Group I and defeated Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds.

Kylian Mbappé, France’s captain, leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals and has been instrumental in their pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup final. Both nations remain unbeaten in North America, and with recent victories against each other, the semi-final on Tuesday is anticipated to be a defining match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The World Cup final is scheduled to take place in New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July.

Source: bbc.com