World Cup 2026: France not superior to Spain – Lamine Yamal

Spain international Lamine Yamal insists France are not superior to his outfit ahead of the decisive stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 18-year-old Barcelona winger made the bold comments during a recent interview ahead of Spain’s Round of 32 clash against Austria.

Responding to questions about France and comparisons between the two European giants, Yamal dismissed suggestions that Les Bleus are stronger than Spain and pointed to recent meetings between the sides as evidence.

“France hasn’t beaten us in two years, so you can’t call them stronger than us,” Yamal said.

“They’re at a great level, they have fantastic players, but I don’t think they’re superior to anyone.”

The teenage sensation also expressed strong belief in the quality of the current Spanish squad, stating that he sees Spain as the strongest national team in the world at the moment.

Yamal’s confidence reflects the growing belief within the Spanish camp following a series of impressive performances in recent international competitions. Spain have continued to build momentum with a young and talented squad blending experienced leaders with exciting emerging stars.

The Barcelona attacker has been one of the standout young players in world football and continues to play a major role for Spain despite his young age. His creativity, pace and maturity on the ball have made him one of the key figures in Spain’s attacking setup.

Spain head into their clash against Austria among the favourites to challenge for the World Cup title, while France have also impressed with strong performances of their own during the tournament.

Yamal’s remarks are likely to add extra intrigue to any potential future meeting between the two European heavyweights as both nations continue their pursuit of global glory.

With confidence high in the Spanish camp, La Roja will now look to back up Yamal’s bold statements with strong performances on the pitch as the knockout rounds continue.