Yamal backs Spain to end France's unbeaten World Cup run in Dallas semifinal

Lamine Yamal has brushed aside France’s flawless 2026 World Cup form, declaring Spain the one team capable of ending their run when the two sides meet in Tuesday’s semifinal at Dallas Stadium.

France arrive having won all six of their matches, scoring a tournament-high 16 goals. Yamal, however, was unmoved. “They haven’t beaten us since the Euros,” the Spain winger said. “They can’t be better than us.”

When pressed on the gap in form between the two sides through the group stage and into the knockouts, Yamal pointed to Germany’s early exit as evidence that prior results carry little weight once the knockout rounds begin. “That doesn’t matter, the group stage means nothing, look at Germany,” he said.

Far from approaching the fixture with caution, Yamal suggested the Spain squad has been looking forward to this exact test. “We’ve been eager for it to arrive,” he said. “For me, we’re the two best teams in the World Cup, but we’re not afraid at all. I think if there’s any team that can confidently go up against France, it’s us.”

Tactically, Yamal expects France to press high but doubts they can sustain that approach for a full 90 minutes. “I’m expecting a team that will come after us but not for the entire match,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any team that can play us one-on-one all over the pitch. But we all know that France has players of tremendous quality both up top and at the back, and they’re very physical.”

Spain’s plan, Yamal made clear, will centre on what they know best. “We’ll play the way we know how, and we’ll try to keep possession of the ball,” he added.

The semifinal between Spain and France is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament, pitting the reigning European champions against the side many neutrals have identified as the strongest team in the competition so far.