After Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, Spain forward Lamine Yamal said, "If France should fear anyone, it's us...We've knocked them out [before]." Spain have won each of their last two meetings with France, a 2-1 victory in UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final and a 5-4 win in the UEFA Nations League 2025 semi-final.