- France are 9-1-0 in their last 10 all-competitions and have conceded only 7 goals in those 10 games.
- Spain are unbeaten in their last 10 (W7, D3) and have averaged 1.80 goals per game (18 total).
- Spain have beaten France in their last two meetings, including a 5-4 win in UEFA Nations League 2024/2025.
France vs Spain - a cagey, high-stakes battle
This could be the defining fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far and while France go into Tuesday's match at the Dallas Stadium as slight favourites at 6/5, Spain at 12/5 and the draw at 23/10 also make plenty of appeal in a tight tactical battle.
France have been on a roll in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage 2026, winning five straight games and putting Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco to the sword in the last three rounds. They were 3-0 winners over the Swedes, 1-0 winners over Paraguay and 2-0 winners over Morocco in a run of ruthless efficiency and clinicality.
Didier Deschamps has overseen this team since July 2012 and he has constructed a set-up based on his compact defensive shape and selective, but intense, press that allows them to keep the ball away from their own goal and unleash Kylian Mbappé in transition.
Mbappé can unlock Spain's defence
The danger man has scored four goals in his three appearances in the 2026 tournament and his pace and vertical running ability means that France will always have a counterattacking option if they are able to get men in behind Spain's backline.
Luis de la Fuente has been at the helm of Spain since December 2022 and his possession-first, high counter-press set-up is designed to pin opponents back and suffocate their exits. They have won five straight in the 2026 knockout stage.
Spain's 3-0 win over Austria, 1-0 win over Portugal and 2-0 win over Belgium has shown that they can control games and are good enough to put teams away. Mikel Merino has netted two goals in his last three appearances for Spain in the 2026 knockout stage, while Mikel Oyarzabal has contributed three of La Roja's nine goals in the past five games.
Spain's last two wins against France
Spain have won their last two matches against France, including a 5-4 victory in a wild encounter in the UEFA Nations League 2024/2025, and we can see the two teams cancelling each other out in a one-goal battle on Tuesday.
