Spain Advances to World Cup Final With 2-0 Win Over France

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - July 14, 2026: Spain are through to the World Cup final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010, after a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the first semifinal at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a clinical, controlled performance from the European champions, who will face the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Argentina and England in Sunday's showpiece.

How It Unfolded

A tight first half swung Spain's way in the 22nd minute, when Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the box and Oyarzabal stepped up to dispatch the resulting penalty - the first time either team had trailed at any point in the entire tournament. Spain maintained control after the break and doubled their lead in the 58th minute, when Porro exchanged a slick give-and-go with Dani Olmo before side-footing past Mike Maignan. Yamal thought he had added a third with a curled finish from close range, only to be denied by the offside flag.

France, tournament favorites at the outset after winning in 2018 and finishing runners-up in 2022, never truly threatened. Spain's defence - which has conceded just once all tournament - restricted the star-studded attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué to a meagre 0.3 expected goals from 10 shots, only three of them on target. Mbappé, still leading the tournament's Golden Boot race, did not test goalkeeper Unai Simón until past the hour mark, and his frustration boiled over into a yellow card for a foul on the Spanish keeper.

A Streak That Refuses to End

The victory extended Spain's remarkable unbeaten run to 37 matches over two years - 28 wins and nine draws without a single defeat - underscoring why Luis de la Fuente's side entered the tournament as European champions and have looked increasingly like the team to beat. It was only the second time Spain and France had ever met at a World Cup, in the 39th encounter between the two nations overall; the last, in 2006, saw Les Bleus win 3-1 in the round of 16.

The End of an Era for France?

The defeat raises immediate questions over the future of Didier Deschamps, who has led France for 14 years, delivering the 2018 World Cup title and a runner-up finish in 2022. His side's flat, disjointed display - described by observers as devoid of ideas and inspiration despite its wealth of attacking talent - marked a stunningly quiet exit for a team many had tipped to reach a third consecutive final.

The Road to the Final

Spain's path to Dallas included a dramatic 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium, sealed by substitute Mikel Merino's 88th-minute rebound just under two minutes after coming off the bench. Sixteen years after their maiden world title in South Africa, La Roja now stand one win from a second star - with either Argentina, the defending champions, or England, chasing their first title since 1966, awaiting in Sunday's final.