The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain

The star-studded World Cup semifinals kick off with France vs. Spain, setting up a high-stakes clash Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The winners advance toward a Sunday final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, after Argentina plays England in Atlanta on Wednesday. Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente told reporters Monday that Spain, France, Argentina and England are among the top four teams and must “try to have the game under control.” Both semifinals will be indoors. France enters as the favorite, with Kylian Mbappé leading the attack on eight goals, while Ousmane Dembélé has five and Michael Olise has five assists. Spain’s defense has allowed just one goal across six matches, from a 2–1 quarterfinal win over Belgium. If Spain avoids conceding again, it could set a record for the fewest goals by a champion.