Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in Tuesday’s semi-final, producing a disciplined and clinical performance that ended Les Bleus’ hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
The European champions outclassed their opponents at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, controlling possession for long periods and neutralising France’s star-studded attack led by Kylian Mbappé. The victory sends Spain into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute after teenage sensation Lamine Yamal won a penalty following a challenge by France defender Lucas Digne inside the box. Experienced forward Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted from the spot, giving La Roja a deserved advantage after an impressive opening spell.
France struggled to respond as Spain’s midfield, marshalled by Rodri and Fabián Ruiz, dictated the tempo of the game. The Spanish defence remained compact throughout, denying Mbappé and his attacking teammates clear scoring opportunities while goalkeeper Unai Simón enjoyed a relatively quiet evening.
Spain doubled their lead in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished a flowing attacking move after combining brilliantly with Dani Olmo. The goal effectively sealed the contest and left France with an uphill task they never looked capable of overcoming.
Although Lamine Yamal later had a goal ruled out for offside, Spain remained firmly in control until the final whistle. France failed to register sustained attacking pressure, with their first shot on target coming late in the contest as Spain comfortably saw out the victory.
The result extends Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run in regular time to 37 matches, underlining the consistency of Luis de la Fuente’s side. Their defensive resilience has been one of the hallmarks of the tournament, with the team conceding very few goals while combining technical excellence with tactical discipline.
For France, the defeat marks a disappointing end to a campaign in which they had entered the tournament among the favourites. Didier Deschamps’ side struggled to create meaningful chances against a well-organised Spanish team, and the loss has intensified scrutiny of their tactical approach in the semi-final.
Spain will now prepare for Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and defending champions Argentina. France, meanwhile, will compete in the third-place playoff as they seek to end their campaign on a positive note.
