Alex Baena: Semifinal against France will be a clash of the two best teams in the world

Spain midfielder Alex Baena has shared his expectations ahead of the 2026 World Cup semifinal against France. The playmaker is convinced fans will witness an open, entertaining contest between two global powerhouses. “It’s going to be a great match between the two best national teams in the world. We’ve faced them many times and almost always won — we hope it’s the same story now. We know both sides will try to play attacking football, and if there are goals, we want more of them to go our way,” Baena said. He also dismissed any nerves inside the Spanish camp. “It’s just another football game. We have to stay calm and not think too much about tomorrow. I don’t think anyone is anxious,” he added. The winner of this semifinal will face either Argentina or England in the final, scheduled for July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey. It was earlier confirmed that a Salvadoran referee will officiate the France–Spain semifinal.