How to Watch the France-Spain Semifinal on FOX with Sling
Soccer powerhouses collide in the semifinal as Kylian Mbappé and France take on Lamine Yamal and Spain. Here’s a preview, plus how to watch the match live on FOX with Sling TV.
The eyes of the entire footballing world are officially turning to Arlington, Texas. On Tuesday, July 14, AT&T Stadium will host an absolute blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026™ Semifinal between France and Spain. Coinciding with the fireworks of France’s Bastille Day, this highly anticipated showdown pits the top two ranked nations on Earth against each other in a true "final before the final." This historic, prestigious Pyrenean derby in Dallas is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 PM ET.
Here’s a preview of this titanic clash between the soccer superpowers, plus details on how to watch all semifinal matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX with Sling.
How to Watch the the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX with Sling
English-language coverage of all remaining matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is exclusive to FOX. FOX is available to Sling Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue subscribers in the markets listed below:
If you live in one of these markets, you can watch all remaining games at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a subscription to Sling Select, Sling Essentials & Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue. You can also use your Sling credentials to sign in to the FOX One app and watch the FOX channels included in your Sling subscription. Packages include Sling Select, Sling Blue, Sling Orange & Blue, and Sling Essentials & Select.
Click the link below to subscribe to Sling Select, and follow this link for complete details on how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX and FS1 with Sling!
Can You Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ With Sling Day Passes?
No. FOX and FS1 are available with a subscription to Sling Blue or Select. 1, 3, and 7 Day Passes only offer programming in the Sling Orange package.
France: Transitional Lethality and the Deschamps Milestone
https://youtu.be/bbemhmzdaDQ?si=jYCKOTnyRwhuEZvy
Les Bleus storm into the final four in flawless form, boasting a perfect six wins in six matches while outscoring opponents 16-2. After comfortably sweeping Group I by taking care of Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0, and Norway 4-1, Didier Deschamps’s side easily dispatched Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32. They subsequently edged past Paraguay 1-0 before completely dismantling Morocco 2-0 to punch their third consecutive semifinal ticket.
France's highly lethal transition system leads the entire tournament with three counterattack goals, verticalizing play at a blistering speed to exploit open space. However, their passive defensive stance remains a notable worry, ranking a lowly 20th in progressive passes allowed and 29th in progressive carries allowed. Deschamps himself will take charge of his record-breaking 26th World Cup match, surpassing Helmut Schön’s long-standing tournament milestone.
Spain: Positional Stranglehold and the Record Chase
Conversely, Spain’s masterclass is built on meticulous positional control, systematically suffocating opponents by defending with the ball. Boasting a stellar, unbeaten 5W-1D-0L record, La Roja cruised through Group H before comfortably bouncing Austria 3-0 and Portugal 1-0. The Spanish backline has surrendered just a single goal all summer—a late first-half header from Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere that snapped a historic 650-minute World Cup scoreless streak. Luis de la Fuente’s side is currently riding a spectacular 36-match unbeaten run, standing just one single game away from matching Italy's historic world record of 37 consecutive undefeated matches.
A Legendary Rivalry Renewed
https://youtu.be/yeh4pQ6qFyY?si=_V0egbLR4jX9vEtt
Historically, these proud European neighbors share a rich and fiercely contested rivalry spanning 38 matches, with Spain holding the upper hand with 18 victories to France's 13. Surprisingly, this titanic semifinal marks only their second-ever meeting on the grand World Cup stage. Their sole previous encounter came back in the 2006 Round of 16 in Germany, where Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira, and Zinedine Zidane spearheaded a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory for France.
In other major tournaments, their history is nothing short of legendary. France famously defeated Spain 2-0 in the Euro 1984 final to secure their first major trophy, and edged a tense Euro 2000 quarterfinal 2-1. However, Spain dominated the Euro 2012 quarterfinals 2-0, and knocked off France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinals. Their most recent official clash was a chaotic, historic 5-4 Nations League semifinal thriller won by Spain in June 2025.
Tactically, Spain will look to monopolize possession, while France will sit in a compact mid-block, waiting patiently to spring devastating counterattacks. If Rodri can successfully disrupt France’s transitions, Spain can control the match; if Kylian Mbappé finds space behind Spain's high line, Les Bleus will punish them ruthlessly.
France Player to Watch: Kylian Mbappé
The 27-year-old French captain remains the single most terrifying attacking force in world football. Mbappé currently leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals and three assists at this World Cup, remarkably finding the net in every single knockout match so far. Having fully recovered from a minor ankle knock sustained against Morocco, he sits on twenty career World Cup goals, just one strike behind Lionel Messi’s all-time tournament record of 21. With his sights locked on a third consecutive World Cup Final appearance, Mbappé's frighteningly fast transition speed, explosive one-on-one dribbling, and clinical finishing will serve as the ultimate, defining test for Spain’s defense in Arlington.
Spain Player to Watch: Lamine Yamal
The 19-year-old Barcelona wonderkid serves as the undisputed creative heartbeat of La Roja's offense. Although savvy opponents have focused heavily on isolating Yamal on the right wing—resulting in a quiet statistical tournament of one goal and zero assists—his tactical value on the pitch of this global showpiece remains absolutely immense. He routinely draws multiple defenders, completing 21 of 40 dribbles and winning 36 grueling ground duels. Boasting a flawless, undefeated 5-0 career record against Mbappé in knockout matches, Yamal’s ability to rediscover his Euro 2024 magic, isolate fullbacks, and carve his own name in the history books is Spain's skeleton key to unlocking France's defense.
Predicted Outcome
With France's overwhelming attacking depth and Spain’s elite tactical organization, this semifinal will be decided by the absolute thinnest of margins. We predict a hard-fought 2-1 victory for France after extra time, with their superior counterattacking clinical edge ultimately breaking Spain's defensive resolve late in the match.
France-Spain Semifinal final Odds
As of Monday, July 13, France is favored to advance to the semis, according to DraftKings. The French team currently has -155 odds to advance, with Spain fetching +125 odds. As for their championship prospects, France has the best odds to win the tournament at +130, with Spain in second place with +320 odds.
To watch all remaining matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX with Sling, use the link below to subscribe to Sling Select and use your Sling credentials to log into the FOX One app!