Ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal between Spain and France, Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi has made it clear that he feels no fear when facing Kylian Mbappe. While Cubarsi acknowledged the immense quality of the French star, he emphasized that the Spanish squad must remain defensively sharp and focused throughout the entire 90 minutes to secure a victory.
Speaking to Diario AS, Cubarsi likened Mbappe’s unique attacking influence to that of his own teammate, Lamine Yamal. He noted that even when Mbappe is not heavily involved in the general flow of a match, his ability to produce a quick, decisive action can shift the outcome at any moment. The defender stressed that maintaining constant alertness is the only way to contain such a player.
Kylian Mbappe has been in stellar form during the tournament, netting eight goals and providing three assists across six matches. Currently tied with Lionel Messi as the tournament's top scorer, the 27-year-old has successfully found the back of the net against every opponent France has faced so far. As Spain looks to reach the final, their robust defense—which has conceded only one goal and kept five clean sheets—will face its toughest test yet against an attacking unit that has scored 16 goals in six games.
Mbappe himself has acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming fixture, stating that the road to the trophy is becoming increasingly challenging. Following France's quarterfinal victory over Morocco, he remarked that the team is preparing for an even tougher encounter against Spain. Neither side has suffered a defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup thus far, though that streak will inevitably end for one team when they face off at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Tuesday, July 14. In their last five head-to-head meetings, Spain has claimed three victories compared to France’s two.
