France and Spain: two international powerhouses with rich histories and bright futures. But how have the two countries matched up against each other in major tournaments throughout the years? Let's look back at the most notable meetings between France and Spain ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal match at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday: 2024 Euros Semifinal: Spain 2, France 1 Spain's Goalscorers: Lamine Yamal, Dani OlmoFrance's Goalscorers: Randal Kolo Muani The most recent meeting between France and Spain was in 2024, again in a semifinal, but in the European Championship.
A majority of the players from both squads are involved again this time. Sixteen members of Spain’s current World Cup squad were in the Euro 2024 squad that won the tournament, while 15 France players from Euro 2024 are also in this World Cup squad. Spain came into that Euro 2024 semifinal flying, having a marvelous tournament up to that point.
La Roja went perfect in the group stage, winning all three matches, then beat Georgia comfortably in the round of 16 before knocking out host nation Germany in the quarterfinals. France, meanwhile, had a relatively poor start to the tournament. Les Bleus failed to win their group, managing five points in the group stage, before lackluster knockout wins over Belgium and Portugal.
France beat Belgium, 1-0, in the round of 16, then defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinals. Spain came in with the momentum, but an early goal from Kolo Muani stirred the pot. Then a moment of magic from Lamine Yamal, a long-distance pearler, and a goal from Dani Olmo off a Jules Koundé deflection gave Spain a 2-1 lead going into halftime.
Spain managed to hang on, winning the semifinal before going on to win the entire tournament by beating England in the final. 2012 Euros Quarterfinal: Spain 2, France 0 Spain's Goalscorers: Xabi Alonso 2 France came into this tournament managed by Laurent Blanc, trying to clean up the scraps of a humiliating 2010 World Cup campaign in which it finished bottom of its group with just one point in a group that included Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa. France started Euro 2012 better compared to 2010 by getting out of the group, but it failed to win the group after suffering an upset defeat to Sweden on match day three.
That meant France had to go up against a Spanish dynasty that was coming off winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. Spain was firmly in the middle of being one of the greatest national teams of all time, if not the greatest national team of all time. An early goal from Xabi Alonso and a late insurance penalty from him in stoppage time allowed Spain to cruise into the semifinals.
Spain went on to win Euro 2012. 2006 World Cup Round of 16: France 3, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine ZidaneSpain's Goalscorers: David Villa This was a dramatic round of 16 matchup in 2006 because France failed to win its group, finishing below Switzerland, which led to Les Bleus facing a Spain side that had won its group in dominant fashion. But Spain’s reward was having to face a France team in the last 16 that still had Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Franck Ribéry and many more.
Those talented players got the better of a Spain team that started strong and took the initial lead through a David Villa penalty. But an equalizer from Ribéry shortly before halftime, a late goal from Vieira on a set piece and a stoppage-time insurance goal from Zidane allowed France to get past Spain. It was a tough break for a Spanish team that won its group but was rewarded with a France team that ended up going all the way to the World Cup final.
2000 Euros Quarterfinal: France 2, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Zinedine Zidane, Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: Gaizka Mendieta This Euro 2000 quarterfinal saw all three goals come in the first half. Zidane broke the deadlock for France with a free kick, before Mendieta equalized from the penalty spot. But Spain not being able to go into the dressing room at 1-1 was a blow, as Djorkaeff scored the go-ahead goal right before halftime.
A young Raúl, only 23 at the time, had the opportunity to send the game into extra time from the penalty spot late on, but the pressure got to him as he blazed his penalty over the crossbar. France went on to the semifinals and eventually won Euro 2000. 1996 Euros Group Stage: France 1, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: José Luis Caminero This was Spain and France’s second group-stage match of Euro 1996, played at Elland Road in Leeds, home of Leeds United.
It ended in a 1-1 draw behind goals from Djorkaeff and José Luis Caminero and proved to be a pivotal point for both teams in their push to move on to the quarterfinals. It was a tight battle between France, Spain and Bulgaria for the top two spots. France topped the group with seven points, Spain finished second with five, and Bulgaria narrowly missed out with four.
1984 Euros Final: France 2, Spain 0 France's Goalscorers: Michel Platini, Bruno Bellone France’s first major international tournament victory came in 1984, when it beat Spain, 2-0, behind Michel Platini, whose Euro 1984 campaign is widely recognized as one of the greatest individual international tournament performances ever. Platini scored nine goals in five matches, including one in the final, as he captained France to the trophy. Bruno Bellone also got on the scoresheet.
Played at the Parc des Princes, France won as host nation in a tense, cagey affair. The opener came in the 57th minute after a mistake from Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada on a Platini free kick, before Bellone added an insurance goal in the 90th minute with a chip. That gave France its first major international tournament title.
This was Spain’s last appearance in a major international tournament final before Euro 2008, 24 years later.
