Spanish teenage sensation Lamine Yamal insists he feels no pressure ahead of the biggest game of his young career as La Roja prepare to face France in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Spain and France will meet on Tuesday, July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a spot in Sunday’s World Cup finals at stake. The blockbuster match starts at 2:00 PM local time (CT), 12:30 AM (IST). Despite being just 19, Yamal remains calm ahead of the high-profile clash and believes Spain are well-equipped to handle the occasion.“We know how to face adversity. And as for the pressure, well, I don’t feel it,” said Yamal during the pre-match press conference, according to FIFA.The Barcelona winger also addressed criticism surrounding his recent performances, saying the semi-final is the ideal stage to prove himself.“You yourself say that I’m not at my best, so you shouldn’t expect anything from me. But I’m sure that tomorrow will be a special day. It’s the most important match that I’ll ever play, and I’m happy to have done this here. We’re all really excited, and me especially. It’s without a doubt the most important thing that he added.
Eye record in Spain semi-final
Spain head into the semi-finals in outstanding form, having gone 36 consecutive games without defeat in regular time since March 2024. Avoiding defeat against France will see La Roja equal Italy’s record 37-game unbeaten run. The head-to-head record also favors Spain. Of the 38 meetings between the two nations, Spain won 18, while France won 13. More importantly, La Roja have triumphed in seven of their last 10 matches, including memorable victories in the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2024 (2-1) and the dramatic 5-4 semi-final of the UEFA Nations League in 2025.
How will France and Spain reach the semi-finals?
France topped Group I with a perfect nine points after wins in Norway, Senegal and Iraq. They then defeated Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0) and Morocco (2-0) to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.Spain finished top of Group H with seven points, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay while drawing with Cape Verde. La Roja qualified for the semi-finals after beating Austria 3-0 and beating Portugal 1-0 in the qualifiers.