Is France out of the World Cup? What's next for Les Bleus after semifinal loss to Spain

France's momentum at the World Cup came to a halt on Tuesday, with Spain delivering a 2-0 defeat to Les Bleus to put an end to the nation's hopes of a third consecutive trip to the World Cup final.

Spain struck first on a penalty kick by Mikel Oyarzabal in the first half, and a goal by Pedro Porro in the 58th minute created more distance than France could overcome.

Changes are ahead for the French, including in the manager's role. First, one more World Cup match awaits.

Here's what you need to know about France's status in the 2026 World Cup.

MORE: Why Spain received penalty kick vs. France

Is France out of the World Cup?

France's hopes of winning the World Cup are gone, as the loss on Tuesday kept the squad out of what would have been a third consecutive final. The journey isn't done yet, however.

France will play for third place, facing the loser of Wednesday's match between England and Argentina. The third-place game will take place on Saturday in Miami, and it could bring Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi together for one more head-to-head matchup even without the high stakes of a World Cup final.

This is still France's worst World Cup finish since 2014, as the French reached the final in both 2018 and 2022, with a win in 2018. That's a testament to how consistent the team has been, but it likely doesn't make the pain of Tuesday's 2-0 defeat any easier.

MORE: World Cup prize money breakdown

Who will France play next?

France will prepare to face either England or Argentina in the third-place match on Saturday. The Golden Boot will be on the line in some form, with Mbappe going head-to-head against either Messi or Harry Kane.

While the stakes won't be as high as either team hoped they would be, the game should still be highly entertaining with two of those stars on the pitch along with Ousmane Dembele and France's talented core.

Long-term, France will prepare for future tournaments and the 2030 World Cup with a new manager. Didier Deschamps is stepping down at the end of the World Cup, with Zinedine Zidane expected to take the reins. 

MORE: What to know about France's likely next manager

France World Cup history

Here's a look at the all-time World Cup results for France, including wins in 1998 and 2018:

France will still finish inside the top four at the World Cup for the third consecutive tournament, but it's a disappointing end for a team that nearly went back-to-back in 2022 and entered the semifinals as the favorite to win a second title in three tournaments.