India, July 14 -- When France and Spain walk onto the pitch for the first World Cup semifinal at Dallas Stadium, they would carry far more than tactics, formations or medal ambitions. They carry centuries of history, distinct cultural identities and competing ideas of nationhood that would circumvent the classic rivalry between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

Football, perhaps more than any other sport, absorbs the character of the societies that play it. Spain's game has long mirrored a culture that prizes artistry, patience and regional expression. France's football, meanwhile, reflects a republic built on diversity, resilience and an ability to transform difference into collective strength.

The semifinal, therefore, is not simply a c...