Kylian Mbappé’s latest fitness report has given France a timely boost ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against Spain after head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that captain Kylian Mbappé is fit and available for selection. While expressing confidence in his squad, Deschamps admitted Spain head into the contest as favourites because of their outstanding form.

Kylian Mbappé is available after fitness concerns

There had been doubts over Kylian Mbappé’s availability after the France captain suffered a minor ankle issue during the quarter-final win over Morocco. The Real Madrid forward also trained separately for part of France’s final practice session, sparking speculation about his fitness.

However, Didier Deschamps put those concerns to rest, confirming that Kylian Mbappé is ready to play. The France coach explained that the forward’s workload had been managed only as a precaution and there was never any major injury concern.

Kylian Mbappé has been France’s key attacking player throughout the tournament, leading the team’s charge into the semi-finals with several match-winning performances. His availability is a major boost as France prepares for one of their toughest tests of the competition.

Didier Deschamps labels Spain favourites

Despite France’s impressive campaign, Didier Deschamps believes Spain have earned the favourites tag ahead of the semi-final. He praised the Spanish side for their consistency, quality in possession and attacking football, saying they have been one of the standout teams at the tournament.

Deschamps also described the upcoming match as a contest between two football powerhouses and says, “It could be a spectacular game, featuring two teams with great attacking quality. Both sides focus on defending well, but given the attacking quality of both teams, one has to expect a spectacular match.” He stressed that France will need to produce their best performance to overcome a team that has looked strong throughout the competition.

Spain reached the last four after defeating Belgium in the quarter-finals, while France secured their semi-final spot with a victory over Morocco.

The winner of Tuesday’s blockbuster encounter will advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, where either England or Argentina will be waiting. With Mbappé’s declared fit and both teams in excellent form, the semi-final promises to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament.