Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal insists he is under no pressure to face the biggest game of his career as La Roja prepare to face France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals.Spain and France meet on Tuesday, July 14, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a place in Sunday’s World Cup final at stake. The blockbuster fight starts at 2:00 PM local time (CT), 12:30 AM (IST). Despite being just 19 years old, Yamal remains calm ahead of the elite and believes Spain has the equipment to handle the event.“We know how to withstand the pressure. And as for the pressure, well, I don’t feel it,” Yamal said in a pre-match press conference, according to FIFA.The Barcelona star also criticized his recent performance, saying that the semifinal is the stage where he needs to prove himself.“You yourself say that I’m not the 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 game that I play, and I’m happy that I’ve made it this far. We’re all very happy, and me above all. Without a doubt, it’s very important for me to play,” he added.
Spain has a long history semi final
Spain enter the semifinal in winning form, having gone 36 games without defeat since March 2024. Avoiding defeat against France would see La Roja equal Italy’s all-time record of 37 games unbeaten. Head-to-head history also favors Spain. Of the 38 meetings between the two countries, Spain won 18, while France won 13. More importantly, La Roja won seven of the last 10 matches, including memorable victories in the semifinal of UEFA Euro 2024 (2-1) and the semifinal 5-4 of the UEFA Nations League in 2025.
How did France and Spain get to the Semi-final?
France topped Group I with nine points after wins over Norway, Senegal and Iraq. They then defeated Sweden (3-0), Paraguay (1-0) and Morocco (2-0) to reach the final 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 advanced to the semifinals after defeating Austria 3-0 and beating Portugal 1-0 in the knockout stages.
