France Vs Spain: Lamine Yamal On France Semi-Final, "We Are The Best Two Teams, But..." | FIFA 2026

Spain forward Lamine Yamal declared "we are not afraid" of France ahead of their World Cup semi-final, after La Roja edged past Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles to book their spot in the last four. Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic 88th-minute winner — his second knockout-stage goal of the tournament, having also struck late against Portugal — after Fabian Ruiz's opener was cancelled out by Charles De Ketelaere. Yamal, who turns 19 the day before the semi-final, called the France clash the game "everybody had been waiting for" since the World Cup began, insisting Spain and France are the tournament's two best teams and that his side would play with confidence rather than fear. Spain take on France on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, for a place in the World Cup final.