Lamine Yamal Calls Out France, Drops Confident Quote Ahead of Spain's World Cup Semifinal Match

Spain's Lamine Yamal is confident his team can knock France out of the 2026 World Cup semifinals after defeating the nation at the same stage of the 2024 Euros.

"If anyone should be afraid it should be them. We knocked them out of the Euros," Yamal said after Spain advanced to the semifinals with a Friday win over Belgium (translation h/t The Athletic).

Spain also eliminated France from the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals.

Fabián Ruiz and Mikel Merino scored Friday to help lift Spain to a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium in Los Angeles.

Yamal became the youngest player since Pelé in 1958 to open scoring in a World Cup match with a goal in a group stage game against Saudi Arabia.

He has yet to break through with another goal contribution, although he saw multiple scoring chances in Spain's win against Belgium.

France advanced in the other side of the semifinal bracket after closing out a 2-0 shutout victory against Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough.

The French team has been led on its World Cup by Kylian Mbappé, who joined Lionel Messi as the second player in tournament history to score 20 goals during Thursday's win against Morocco.

France's offense has had a dominant run to the semifinal, outscoring opponents by a 16-2 margin.

Spain has at times relied on its defense, which had not allowed a single World Cup goal before Friday's win over Belgium.

The two teams will now play for a spot in the World Cup championship game on Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET in Dallas.

Whichever one of France or Spain emerges victorious from their semifinal matchup will advance to play either Norway, England, Argentina or Switzerland.

Norway is set to take on England at 5 p.m. ET Saturday in Miami, while Argentina and Switzerland will play at 9 p.m. ET in Kansas City.