La Roja deliver on the biggest stage
Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with an impressive 2–0 victory over France in their semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, 14 July.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured a deserved win for Luis de la Fuente’s side, who controlled long periods of the match and prevented France’s dangerous attackers from finding their rhythm.
The victory sends Spain into their first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010. They will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Argentina in the final on Sunday, 19 July.
Oyarzabal opens the scoring
Both teams entered the contest with enough attacking quality to produce a memorable semi-final. France had Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise in their forward line, while Spain looked to Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Oyarzabal for inspiration.
However, it was Spain who settled more quickly and began to take control through their patient passing and movement.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute after Yamal was fouled inside the penalty area. Oyarzabal stepped forward and calmly converted the spot kick beyond France goalkeeper Mike Maignan to give Spain a crucial early advantage.
Yamal remained a constant threat on the right side of Spain’s attack. The teenager also had an effort ruled out for offside as France struggled to contain his movement, confidence and close control.
Spain’s defence frustrates Mbappé
France had arrived at the semi-final with one of the most powerful attacks in the tournament. Mbappé had already scored eight goals and was competing for the Golden Boot, while France had scored 14 times before facing Spain.
Despite that impressive record, Didier Deschamps’ team struggled to create clear opportunities. Spain’s defenders remained organised, defended the spaces behind their midfield and limited Mbappé’s chances to run at goal.
France attempted to increase the pressure after halftime, but Spain continued to look comfortable without the ball. Their ability to close down passing lanes prevented France from building sustained attacks through the centre of the field.
Spain’s defensive performance earned them a sixth clean sheet in seven matches at the tournament. They have conceded only once during their remarkable journey to the final.
Porro finishes a flowing move
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute following an excellent team move.
Pedro Porro exchanged passes with Dani Olmo before moving into the penalty area and finishing clinically past Maignan. The goal reflected Spain’s overall performance, combining quick passing, intelligent movement and composure in the final third.
France made substitutions and pushed more players forward in an attempt to rescue the match. However, Spain remained disciplined and continued to manage possession whenever the pressure increased.
Although France produced a late attacking spell, they could not find the goal that might have changed the momentum of the semi-final. Spain’s defenders protected their goalkeeper effectively and saw out the closing stages with confidence.
Another major disappointment for France
The defeat ended France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. Les Bleus won the competition in 2018 and finished as runners-up to Argentina in 2022, but Spain proved too strong in Arlington.
Mbappé will now have to turn his attention to the third-place playoff and his battle for the Golden Boot. France will face the losing team from the England versus Argentina semi-final on Saturday, 18 July.
For Spain, the dream of becoming world champions for a second time remains alive. Their combination of talented young attackers, experienced midfielders and an outstanding defence has made them one of the tournament’s most complete teams.
With Spain now unbeaten in 37 matches and carrying strong momentum into the final, La Roja will believe they can finish an outstanding campaign by lifting football’s biggest prize.