Spain march into the World Cup final
Spain are through to the 2026 World Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the first semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a deserved win for Luis de la Fuente’s side, who have now won all five of their knockout matches at this tournament.
France, widely considered pre-match favourites, struggled to find their rhythm against a disciplined and technically brilliant Spain team. The result sends Spain into Sunday’s final, where they will face the winner of Wednesday’s England versus Argentina semi-final.
How the goals happened
Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute through a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty. The Real Sociedad forward stepped up confidently and converted after France conceded the foul inside the box. It was a composed finish from a player who has quietly been one of Spain’s most important performers in the United States.
The second goal came in the 58th minute from an unlikely source. Right-back Pedro Porro surged forward and finished brilliantly to double Spain’s advantage. The Tottenham defender’s strike effectively killed the contest, leaving France with too much to do in the final half-hour.
Match stats tell the story
The numbers reflect how evenly the game was contested — but also how clinical Spain were when it mattered.
- Possession: Spain 50.9% — France 49.1%
- Total shots: Spain 10 — France 10
- Shots on target: Spain 2 — France 3
- Corners: Spain 1 — France 7
France actually edged several statistical categories, including shots on target and corners. But Spain’s efficiency in front of goal proved decisive. They did not need to dominate possession or pepper the French goal — they simply took their chances and defended resolutely.
Key moments and discipline
The match was not without flashpoints. France’s Adrien Rabiot picked up an early yellow card in just the 9th minute, setting a nervy tone for Les Bleus. Spain’s Marc Cucurella was also booked in the 31st minute as both sides competed fiercely for every ball.
Perhaps the most telling booking came in the 86th minute when Kylian Mbappé received a yellow card. The French superstar, who had been largely kept quiet by Spain’s defensive organisation, showed visible frustration as his World Cup dream slipped away.
France’s tournament ends in disappointment
For France and outgoing manager Didier Deschamps, the defeat marks a disappointing end to what had been a strong tournament. Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in 2018 and the final in 2022, will now oversee his final match in the third-place play-off on Saturday.
France’s form entering the semi-final had been impressive — four wins and a loss in their last five matches. But Spain proved to be a step too far. The French attack, so devastating earlier in the tournament, was stifled by a Spain backline that has been the best defensive unit at this World Cup.
Spain’s remarkable consistency
Spain’s run at the 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of exceptional. With five consecutive wins in the knockout rounds and a defensive record that has conceded the fewest goals in the tournament, La Roja have quietly built a case as the best team in the competition.
Luis de la Fuente deserves enormous credit for constructing a side that blends experienced campaigners like Oyarzabal with dynamic younger talents like Lamine Yamal and Pedri. Spain’s ability to control games without relying on any single superstar has been their greatest strength.
What comes next
Spain will now prepare for the World Cup final on Sunday at the same venue. Their opponents will be determined on Wednesday when England face Argentina in the second semi-final.
For France, there is only the consolation of a third-place play-off — a match no team wants to play. Deschamps will want to end his tenure on a high note, but the sting of this semi-final exit will take time to fade.
Spain, meanwhile, are just one win away from lifting the World Cup for the second time in their history. On this evidence, they will be very hard to stop.
