Expect final-like atmosphere for Spain-France World Cup semifinal

Two years ago, when the locations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games were announced, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones pointed to the positives.

“We will act like it’s the final game,” Jones said at a news conference in 2024, “and every game, we will act like it’s the final game, because we want to show them. And we want to show them not only what this area is about, but we want to show them why this stadium is here to begin with.”

The final World Cup match in Texas is set for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Arlington. And while it isn’t the finale of the tournament, there should be a finale-like atmosphere between France and Spain. France enters as the No. 1-ranked team in the world in FIFA’s rankings, while Spain is ranked third. The winner will face either Argentina or England on Sunday in New Jersey, and the losing teams will play a match in Miami for third place.

Jones will be in attendance to watch the game in the home stadium of the Cowboys, along with his family, corporate partners and others.

The Cowboys owner should be far from the only high-profile visitor Tuesday. The venue has already drawn celebrities over the course of the eight previous games. Actor Samuel L. Jackson has watched a match. So have musicians Shakira and Iggy Azalea. Other athletes, including Dirk Nowitzki, Cooper Flagg, Von Miller and Dez Bryant, have also attended matches in Arlington.

Regulars at Spain’s matches this summer have included Spanish actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who have been married since 2010. They attended Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium in Inglewood, Calif., along with Brad Pitt and Timothée Chalamet.