Spain defender Pau Cubarsi has made his stance clear ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal against France: he is not afraid of Kylian Mbappe. While acknowledging the French forward's immense talent, Cubarsi emphasized that the Spanish squad must remain defensively sharp and fully focused for the entire 90 minutes to contain him. In an interview with Diario AS, Cubarsi likened Mbappe’s unique ability to influence games to that of his teammate Lamine Yamal, noting that even when Mbappe is not heavily involved in the buildup, he can change the outcome of a match with a single quick action. He stressed that defenders must stay alert throughout the contest.
Kylian Mbappe has been in sensational form during the ongoing tournament, netting eight goals and providing three assists across six matches, which places him as the tournament's joint-top scorer alongside Lionel Messi. Notably, the 27-year-old has found the back of the net against every opponent France has faced so far. France, who have recorded 16 goals in their six games, will present a significant challenge to a Spanish defense that has been remarkably robust, conceding only one goal and keeping five clean sheets throughout the tournament.
Looking ahead to the match, which is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Kylian Mbappe has acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming encounter. Following France's victory over Morocco in the quarterfinals, the forward stated that the team expects a tougher test against Spain. Both nations enter the semifinal undefeated in the 2026 tournament. Historically, in their last five head-to-head meetings, Spain has claimed three victories compared to France’s two.
