Spain's Lamine Yamal eyes World Cup semi against France

Spain’s 19‑year‑old prodigy Lamine Yamal is set to lead La Roja in the World Cup 2026 semi‑final against France at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Rodri, Spain’s captain, warned that Yamal needs to "calm the anxiety" that sometimes hampers his play, noting the youngster’s importance to the team with or without the ball. Yamal, who scored the decisive goal against France in the Euro 2024 semi‑final and again in the UEFA Nations League, hopes to repeat that impact on the world stage. His recent contract extension with Barcelona reportedly pays about €40 million a year, surpassing even Kylian Mbappé’s earnings at Real Madrid. Mbappé, now 27, is the French talisman with eight goals in the tournament, tied with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot race and one behind the all‑time World Cup record. Both players are looking to cement their legacy: Yamal aims to become one of the youngest World Cup winners, while Mbappé seeks a third consecutive final appearance.

Spain entered the tournament after a 4‑0 win over Saudi Arabia and a 2‑1 victory over Belgium. France reached the semi‑final after victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco. The match, scheduled for 14 July, will determine which side advances to the final against the winner of the England‑Argentina semi‑final.