Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a convincing 2-0 victory over France in the semifinal at Dallas Stadium on July 14.
The result ended France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final and sent Spain into only the second men’s World Cup final in their history.
Spain entered the semifinal in outstanding form, having conceded just one goal throughout the tournament. France, meanwhile, arrived as one of the competition’s strongest teams, with an attacking lineup featuring Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
Despite France’s attacking quality, Spain controlled the decisive moments and produced a disciplined performance to secure the win.
Oyarzabal Gives Spain the Lead
Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the penalty area.
Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and converted the penalty, giving Spain a 1-0 advantage.
The goal reflected Spain’s ability to turn possession and attacking pressure into clear opportunities. France struggled to generate a sustained response before halftime.
Spain continued to control the rhythm of the match, limiting France’s ability to build dangerous attacks.
Porro Doubles Spain’s Advantage
Spain extended their lead shortly after halftime.
Pedro Porro finished from a Dani Olmo assist to make it 2-0, putting Spain firmly in control of the semifinal.
France attempted to respond, but Spain’s defensive organization made it difficult for the French attack to create clear chances.
A third Spanish goal was later ruled out for offside, but the decision did little to change the direction of the match.
France’s World Cup Run Ends in the Semifinal
France had been regarded as one of the favorites to win the tournament after an impressive run through the knockout stages.
The team had reached the World Cup semifinal for the third consecutive tournament under Didier Deschamps. However, Spain’s possession, defensive structure and ability to exploit spaces ultimately proved decisive.
For Deschamps, the defeat also marked the end of his tenure as France coach.
France will now look toward rebuilding its squad around a new generation of players, while Spain moves into the final with considerable momentum.
Spain’s Remarkable Defensive Record
One of the defining features of Spain’s World Cup campaign has been their defensive consistency.
Before the final, Spain had conceded only one goal across seven matches. Their ability to maintain possession while limiting opposition opportunities has been central to their success.
The team has combined experienced players with emerging stars such as Lamine Yamal, creating a squad capable of controlling games in multiple ways.
The semifinal against France was another example of that approach.
Spain Reach the World Cup Final
The victory puts Spain into the World Cup final for only the second time.
Their previous appearance came in 2010, when Spain defeated the Netherlands in extra time to win their first World Cup title.
The 2026 team now has the opportunity to add another World Cup trophy to the country’s football history.
Spain ultimately went on to defeat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, with Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute to secure Spain’s second World Cup title.
Key Takeaways
- Spain defeated France 2-0 in the semifinal.
- Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot.
- Pedro Porro added Spain’s second goal.
- Spain reached their second men’s World Cup final.
- France’s run ended in the semifinal.
- Spain later won the 2026 World Cup after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.
