The 2026 FIFA World Cup reached fever pitch on Monday as France and Spain met in Dallas for the first semi-final, with a place in the tournament’s grand finale on the line.
Spain went in unchanged from the squad that dispatched Belgium in the quarterfinals. Manager Luis de la Fuente once again left Pedri and Nico Williams on the bench, opting instead for Fabián Ruiz in midfield and the same attacking shape that carried La Roja this far. Mikel Merino — the hero supersub of the previous two rounds — was once again consigned to a seat among the reserves.
France, meanwhile, made two adjustments. Aurélien Tchouaméni returned from injury to displace Manu Koné in midfield, while Bradley Barcola replaced Désiré Doué on the left flank, lining up alongside Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise in a formidable front three. The lineups confirmed what most observers expected: two of European football’s heavyweights going at full strength.
The match also comes amid broader World Cup storylines. British media erupted over the referee assignment for the other semi-final — Argentina vs. England — labeling the chosen official “Messi’s favorite.” Meanwhile, FIFA finalized an extravagant closing ceremony lineup for the tournament’s final, featuring Tom Cruise, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Laura Pausini, and — in a sign of the times — the wildly popular streamer IShowSpeed. Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson was confirmed to sing the U.S. national anthem.
Off the pitch, Norway’s World Cup players received a rapturous homecoming ceremony that one Norwegian columnist described as “a suggestive and grand experience” for all who followed along. And the tournament’s mandatory hydration breaks — pauses around the 22nd and 67th minutes to combat extreme heat — have already sparked debate about whether domestic leagues like Costa Rica’s Primera División will adopt the practice when their season kicks off on July 26.
