France vs. Spain: Head-to-head record and past meetings after World Cup 2026 semi-final

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 39

France wins: 13

Draws: 7

Spain wins: 19

Two of European football's giants, France and Spain, have locked horns on 39 separate occasions over the years, and it is La Roja that lead the head-to-head record with 19 wins compared to Les Bleus' 13, while the sides have played out seven draws.

The first encounter between the nations took place back in April 1922, when Spain thrashed France 4-0 during a friendly in Bordeaux, thanks to a brace apiece from Paulino Alcantara and Manuel Lopez 'Travieso'.

That inaugural defeat marked the first of four in a row for France, who only managed to avoid losing one of their opening eight contests against Spain, beating La Roja 1-0 in April 1933.

June 1984 marked the most high-profile meeting in this fixture - and the very first competitive showdown - when France ran out 2-0 winners in the European Championship final, courtesy of second-half efforts from Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone.

Triumphing at the Parc des Princes that day saw Les Bleus secure their first ever major trophy, a feat made all the more special given they were the competition's hosts. Since then, France have regularly come up against Spain in the knockout stages of international tournaments, emerging victorious in the round of 16 at World Cup 2006, for example.

However, La Roja have won four of the last five meetings between the nations, including a 2-1 comeback in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, when Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo overcame an early opener from Randal Kolo Muani.

Spain also won a dramatic nine-goal thriller 5-4 during June 2025's Nations League semi-final, surviving a second-half scare having established a 5-1 lead with Yamal's 67th-minute effort.

The most recent encounter came during the semi-finals of World Cup 2026, where a midfield masterclass from La Roja captain Rodri helped to neutralise France's front four of Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola as Spain ran out 2-0 winners at Dallas' AT&T Stadium.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring that day in July, striking home from the penalty spot midway through the first half after Lucas Digne brought down Yamal, before right-back Pedro Porro finished off a one-on-one against Les Bleus goalkeeper Mike Maignan just before the hour mark.