France has been widely viewed as the team to beat at the 2026 World Cup, but Spain phenom Lamine Yamal doesn't see Les Bleus as the favorites.
"They haven't beaten us since the Euros. They can't be better than us," Yamal said of France during a translated interview with El Partidazo de COPE.
France and Spain entered the World Cup as favorites to win the tournament. Les Bleus boast arguably the most talented squad competing in North America after reaching the World Cup final in 2018 and 2022, with the former resulting in France lifting the golden trophy. Didier Deschamps' men have looked unstoppable lately, winning their three group-stage matches by a combined score of 10-2.
Meanwhile, Spain - which defeated France at the 2024 Euros semifinal en route to the title - hasn't fully lived up to the hype at the World Cup.
La Roja were held to a goalless draw with Cape Verde in their tournament opener. They bounced back with a 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia before an ugly 1-0 triumph over Uruguay. Yamal wasn't fully healthy to begin the World Cup and started his country's first match on the bench before coming on late.
"The group stage is meaningless," Yamal said.
The 18-year-old star believes the World Cup starts in the knockout stage.
"I don't think there's a favorite," he added. "Obviously, France is coming in at a very high level, in very good form. They have good players, but I don't think they're above anyone."
France plays Sweden in the round of 32, while Spain faces Austria. The two European powerhouses are on the same side of the knockout-stage bracket, meaning they can potentially face each other in the semifinals.
