Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has sent a bold message to France after La Roja ended up in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals a week ago with a dramatic 2-1 win over Belgium.
Spain secured their place in the final four after beating Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday (July 10). Fabian Ruiz opened the lead in the 30th minute but Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium just before halftime. With super-sub Mikel Merino again coming up with the goods and scoring the winner in the 88th minute for Spain to put the European champions in the semi-finals.
That sets up a blockbuster clash against France at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on July 14, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.
Yamal said Spain are going to go into the semifinal with a lot of confidence and feels that France is not Spain, and not Spain who should be worried, the 18-year-old Yamal said after the win, at his age, that Spain are going into the semifinal confident, and it's France who should be worried, not Spain.
“We’re very happy to be in the semis. Very pleased with the qualification. We’ve been far better,” Yamal told TV Espana.
The Barcelona player insisted Spain arrived at the tournament with only one objective.
“All the other teams are behind us. We came here to win, and that’s all that matters.”
Yamal then gave his strongest statement yet ahead of the highly anticipated showdown with Les Bleus.
“If anyone should be afraid, it should be them (France) — we knocked them out of the Euros. We’ve beaten them twice. We’re not afraid of them.”
Yamal had confidence in Didier Deschamps’ side but expects to be in a battle for the final.
“We are two great teams, among the best in the world. We will see what happens, but we have no fear.”
Spain are going into the semifinal in excellent form. They have now won five games at the tournament and remain unbeaten, with Merino being the team’s knockout hero with the goal against Portugal and Belgium that took the team to the next stage.
France, meanwhile, have lived up to their billing as one of the tournament favourites and will provide Spain with their toughest test yet.
And with Yamal in full confidence and Spain still on the way to the final four, the stage is set for one of the biggest matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026—a heavyweight clash between two of the strongest nations in world football.
