And this is the biggest matchup of all to come to Dallas-Fort Worth \u2014 and one of the biggest sporting events in the Metroplex\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
France, the No. 1-ranked team in the world<\/a>, takes on No. 3 Spain at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the World Cup semifinals. Spain briefly moved up to No. 2 after its quarterfinal victory over Belgium, but Argentina took the second spot back after its quarterfinal win over Switzerland.<\/p>\n The France-Spain winner advances to face the Argentina-England winner in the World Cup final Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n Follow all the action throughout the day here:<\/p>\n That\u2019s it<\/p>\n 6:10 p.m.<\/p>\n That\u2019s all for us for the World Cup. Thanks for following along this month.<\/p>\n Read all the Star-Telegram of the final match below:<\/p>\n Four takeaways from the match<\/p>\n 4:39 p.m.<\/p>\n Spain swarmed French star Kylian Mbappe and delivered the dagger to take an almost insurmountable two-goal lead.<\/p>\n Here are four takeaways from the match<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n FINAL: Spain 2, France 0<\/p>\n 3:59 p.m.<\/p>\n Spain defeats France 2-0 to move on to the World Cup final.<\/p>\n Spain got goals from Mikel Oyarzabal on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute and Pedro Porro in the 58th minute.<\/p>\n Spain advances to face the England-Argentina winner in the World Cup final at 2 p.m. Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n France will play in the third-place match at 4 p.m. Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Movie star sighting<\/p>\n 3:49 p.m.<\/p>\n Movie star Timoth\u00e9e Chalamet was spotted and shown on the video board.<\/p>\n The \u201cDune\u201d star has dual citizenship with the U.S. and France.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Harris<\/p>\n France running out of time<\/p>\n 3:45 p.m.<\/p>\n France\u2019s best shot at a goal comes up short. A through ball to Mbappe forced Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon to run up the pitch to challenge the striker, but he couldn\u2019t corral the ball, and it ended up in possession of Desire Doue.<\/p>\n With Simon out of the net, Doue wound up for a long shot just outside the box, but Simon recovered and saved the shot in the 81st minute. Time is running out on France.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Attendance announced<\/p>\n 3:38 p.m.<\/p>\n Officials announced today\u2019s attendance as 70,176.<\/p>\n Watch for Spain to park the bus<\/p>\n 3:35 p.m.<\/p>\n When you have this good of a back line, you lean on it to close out big matches like this one.<\/p>\n With Spain now holding a two-goal advantage, look for its world-class defensive-four to add a body or two to prevent any sort of France comeback. With that, though, will come more possession and more opportunities for France to sneak a goal in at some point.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re Spain, you take that gamble with more bodies in your own box. Now, it\u2019s time to close it out for La Roja to punch a ticket into its first World Cup Final since winning it all in 2010.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Harris<\/p>\n France trying to mount comeback<\/p>\n 3:30 p.m.<\/p>\n After a quiet first half, French striker Kylian Mbappe is trying his best to will France back into the match. Mbappe registered his first shot attempt in the 67th minute, which was narrowly blocked by defender Marc Cucurella. Mbappe tried to generate another attack in the 68th minute but was called for offsides.<\/p>\n France is gathering itself during the hydration break for one last surge, and Mbappe will need to lead the charge if France is to pull off the comeback.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Is this the \u2018real final?\u2019<\/p>\n 3:29 p.m.<\/p>\n France came into this matchup ranked No. 1 in the world, and Spain was No. 3 after briefly holding the No. 2 spot after its quarterfinal.<\/p>\n Is the \u201creal\u201d World Cup final being played today in Arlington? Fans debated the issue<\/a> with the Star-Telegram.<\/p>\n \u2014 Charles Baggarly<\/p>\n Jerry Jones booed by fans<\/p>\n 3:27 p.m.<\/p>\n Fans booed loudly when Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was shown on the video board.<\/p>\n Either there are a fair amount of locals in the stadium, or international fans have their own feelings about Jones.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Barnes<\/p>\n GOAL: Spain 2, France 0<\/p>\n 3:20 p.m.<\/p>\n Goal!<\/p>\n Spain moves ahead 2-0 on a strike by Pedro Porro in the 58th minute. France initially thought a foul would be called after Dani Olmo took a hit while making the pass to Porro.<\/p>\n Porro didn\u2019t wait for the whistle and went for goal, getting the shot past Mike Maignan. With Spain\u2019s elite defense controlling the pace, France will be hard-pressed to make a comeback in the final half-hour.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n English soccer superstar tries Texas barbecue<\/p>\n 3:03 p.m.<\/p>\n David Beckham, one of England\u2019s greatest soccer stars, came through the Metroplex for the World Cup, and he couldn\u2019t leave without trying Terry Black\u2019s Barbecue<\/a>.<\/p>\n Beckham went to the Dallas location and also tried on some Texas headgear at the McKinney Hat Company.<\/p>\n \u2014 Lawrence Dow<\/p>\n Spain solidly favored with lead<\/p>\n 2:59 p.m.<\/p>\n Spain is now a -186 favorite to advance at DraftKings holding a 1-0 lead at halftime, implying a 65% chance of winning. Spain was a +133 underdog before the match, implying a 43% chance.<\/p>\n Spain is a -122 favorite to win in regulation. France is +456, and a draw is +245.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Barnes<\/p>\n HALFTIME: Spain 1, France 0<\/p>\n 2:54 p.m.<\/p>\n Spain leads France 1-0 after a physical opening half. There were more fouls and yellow cards handed out than shots on target, but so far the pacing has favored Spain.<\/p>\n La Roja did a superb job limiting the touches of world-class striker Kylian Mbappe, with the Spanish midfield being the unsung heroes of the first half. France couldn\u2019t complete many of its signature long ball passes due to positioning of Spain\u2019s midfielders and a number of timely deflections.<\/p>\n Will France be able to break through in the second half?<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Olympic legend in the building<\/p>\n 2:43 p.m.<\/p>\n Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt is at AT&T Stadium for the match and received a warm response when he was shown on the video board.<\/p>\n The Jamaican remains the world record-holder in the 100 and 200 meters.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Barnes<\/p>\n Spain just misses out on 2-0 lead<\/p>\n 2:37 p.m.<\/p>\n Spain comes within inches of extending its lead to 2-0 in the 39th minute after Lamine Yamal almost completed a pass to surging Fabian Ruiz right in front of the net.<\/p>\n French defender Dayot Upamecano broke it up at the very last second to keep France in the match.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n France struggling to break back line<\/p>\n 2:33 p.m.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve been through a half-hour in this one, and France has only been able to materialize one shot, but it hasn\u2019t been for a lack of effort.<\/p>\n The Blues have attempted to turn their high-octane attack into shot attempts, but the world-class Spain back line has stood firm when approached by France\u2019s deadly trio of attackers.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an unusual challenge for France to have to overcome in this World Cup, as it has had relative ease working deep into the opposing box for shots on goal \u2014 and goals themselves.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Harris<\/p>\n A key injury for France<\/p>\n 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n The hits keep coming for France as key defender William Saliba limped off the pitch in the 31st minute. Saliba fell awkwardly while receiving a pass, and now Les Bleus will be without one of their best defenders.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Spain leads 1-0 on penalty kick<\/p>\n 2:22 p.m.<\/p>\n Another foul has been called on France, and this time it resulted in a penalty after a sloppy tackle attempt on Spain winger Lamine Yamal. It\u2019s third foul in the final third by France in the first half.<\/p>\n Mikel Oyarzabal struck the penalty kick with ease to put Spain ahead 1-0 in the 22nd minute.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Scene at Sundance Square<\/p>\n 2:15 p.m.<\/p>\n About 200 people have gathered in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth to watch the France-Spain match. Not as packed as the area has been for U.S. and Mexico matches, but solid nonetheless.<\/p>\n Most are sitting in the shaded area in front of the Telemundo broadcast.<\/p>\n \u2014 Cal Phillips<\/p>\n Yellow card for France<\/p>\n 2:12 p.m.<\/p>\n Less than 10 minutes into the match and we have a yellow card!<\/p>\n French defender Adrien Rabiot was issued the card after a rough tackle on Spain\u2019s Dani Olmo. The decision led to a free kick for Spain, but La Roja was unable to threaten French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.<\/p>\n So far, the match has been a physical contest with both sides feeling each other out.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n We are underway<\/p>\n 2 p.m.<\/p>\n France and Spain are underway with a berth in the World Cup final on the line.<\/p>\n Jameis Winston decked out in French gear<\/p>\n 1:46 p.m.<\/p>\n New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, a roaming correspondent for Fox Sports, met with fans outside AT&T Stadium wearing a France jersey and a beret while holding a baguette.<\/p>\n He practiced his French chants and pronunciation, giving a slight nod to Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Cohen\u2019s viral \u201cDuval\u201d moment. Afterward, he took pictures with countless fans.<\/p>\n Jameis Winston, the most entertaining personality in sports?<\/p>\n He met with fans outside Dallas Stadium, wearing a beret & practicing French chants while holding a baguette. Took countless photos with fans. pic.twitter.com\/aAetxbYxgp<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Charles Baggarly (@swaggarly) July 14, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n \u2014 Charles Baggarly<\/p>\n A European showdown<\/p>\n 1:40 p.m.<\/p>\n It\u2019s fitting that the top two teams in Europe find themselves squaring off in a World Cup semifinal. France, led by its superstar trio of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, leads a high-octane attack against a defensively sound Spain squad that has allowed just one goal in the entire tournament.<\/p>\n Historically, Spain has had the edge over The Blues (18-13-7 all-time), largely due to its success over the past two decades. France has won just one competitive match against La Roja since 2006, but it enters this match as the betting favorite behind its superteam front.<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s young superstar Lamine Yamal will look to create opportunities for Mikel Oyarzabal early on to keep pace with whatever offensive strategy France throws on the pitch.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Harris<\/p>\n Spain\u2019s teenage star is confident<\/p>\n 1:32 p.m.<\/p>\n France and Spain\u2019s soccer rivalry is already arguably the most intense on the international level, but Tuesday\u2019s match could be more intense than usual thanks to Spanish winger Lamine Yamal.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old rising star took to social media in the hours leading up to the semifinal with a post reminiscing about the last time the two teams faced. Spain jumped out to a 5-1 lead and held on to defeat France 5-4 in the Nations League final in June 2025.<\/p>\n Yamal has won his last five knockout matches against France superstar Kylian Mbappe and seems very confident about extending his win streak to six.<\/p>\n \u2014 Steven Johnson<\/p>\n Concession prices could be worse<\/p>\n 12:51 p.m.<\/p>\n Eating and drinking at a World Cup match at AT&T Stadium isn\u2019t cheap<\/a>, but DFW fans don\u2019t face the highest prices.<\/p>\n According to one study of World Cup venues<\/a>, Miami has the most expensive food, powered by a $75 signature dish of caviar-topped tater tots.<\/p>\n The study added up the cost of five items: a classic food such as a hot dog or burger, a beer, a World Cup signature dish, a snack and a bottle of water.<\/p>\n AT&T Stadium is merely No. 4 with a cost of $70.70 for the five items, trailing Miami ($110), Boston ($78) and Kansas City ($73.12).<\/p>\n \u2014 Lawrence Dow<\/p>\n France is here; Spain is on the way<\/p>\n 12:27 p.m.<\/p>\n The video board at AT&T Stadium showed the France bus pulling into the parking lot, then showed the Spain bus en route on what appeared to be Interstate 30.<\/p>\n The Star-Telegram\u2019s Charles Baggarly saw the France bus blow by from the media shuttle:<\/p>\n Proceeded by a lengthy police escort, Les Bleus head toward Dallas Stadium. <\/p>\n France set to face Spain in a FIFA World Cup Semifinal at 2 pm. pic.twitter.com\/i5nzasbFyB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Charles Baggarly (@swaggarly) July 14, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Led by a lengthy, motorcycle police escort, Team France\u2019s bus made its way toward AT&T Stadium.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, fans watched in near standstill traffic, struggling to make it to the stadium, which will soon be packed with about 70,000 people.<\/p>\n Bettors lean toward France<\/p>\n 12:15 p.m.<\/p>\n France, the 2018 World Cup champion and 2022 runner-up, is a modest favorite today.<\/p>\n France is -138 at DraftKings to advance to the finals, implying a 58% chance of victory. A bettor would have to wager $138 to profit $100 on France advancing.<\/p>\n France is +156 to win in regulation, meaning a bettor could wager $100 to profit $156 if Les Bleus prevail in the first 90 minutes. Spain is +233, and a draw is +213.<\/p>\n The total \u2014 the combined number of goals scored by both teams in regulation \u2014 is 2.5.<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, French superstar Kylian Mbappe is the most likely to score a goal in the match at -117. He is tied with Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi for the most goals in the tournament with eight.<\/p>\n Mbappe is the +257 favorite to score the first goal of the match.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Barnes<\/p>\n Two hours away<\/p>\n 12 p.m.<\/p>\n A look at the pitch two hours before kickoff.<\/p>\n Fans are slowly filing in and enjoying getting their chance to shine on the massive video board.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jim Barnes<\/p>\n World Cup winners and losers for DFW<\/p>\n 11:45 a.m.<\/p>\n The World Cup is being considered a great success for Dallas-Fort Worth economically and culturally.<\/p>\n \u201cIn one month, the World Cup generated roughly half as much revenue for Arlington as AT&T Stadium does in a year, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said Monday, declaring that the tournament had a \u2018substantial\u2019 economic impact<\/a> on his city,\u201d Star-Telegram reporter Matthew Adams writes.<\/p>\n A young France fan at Dallas Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between France and Spain on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
Spain defender Pedro Porro reacts after his team defeated France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
Spain midfielder Fabian Ruiz (8) and France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni compete for possession during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
Spain celebrates a goal by defender Pedro Porro (12) in the second half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal against Franceon Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
France defender Maxence Lacroix (26) and Spain forward Ferran Torres compete for a header during the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Amanda McCoy FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n
![\"AT&T](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/WorldCupFranceSpain.jpeg\" "\\"WorldCupFranceSpain.jpeg\\"")
AT&T Stadium two hours before the start of the FIFA World Cup semifinal between France and Spain on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Arlington. Jim Barnes FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM <\/p>\n