Spain Reach World Cup Final After Defeating France 2-0

ARLINGTON – Spain secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final after defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, on Tuesday, ending Les Bleus' bid to reach a third consecutive World Cup final and moving one step closer to a second world title.

According to The Associated Press (AP), Spain controlled the match with disciplined possession and an outstanding defensive display. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the box, while Pedro Porro doubled Spain's advantage in the 58th minute following a well-worked move with Dani Olmo.

The victory extended Spain's unbeaten run to 37 international matches since March 2024. It also marked another defensive masterclass, with Luis de la Fuente's side conceding only one goal throughout the tournament before reaching the final.

Ahead of kickoff, Reuters reported that France head coach Didier Deschamps made two changes to his starting lineup by recalling Bradley Barcola and Aurélien Tchouaméni, while Spain fielded the same starting eleven that defeated Belgium in the quarterfinals.

Following the defeat, France captain Kylian Mbappé admitted his side failed to execute its tactical plan.

"We were sloppy. We didn't execute our game plan well enough," Mbappé told Reuters after the match.

Spain's disciplined midfield, led by Rodri, successfully neutralized France's attacking trio, while the defensive line consistently denied clear scoring opportunities throughout the match.

Spain will now face the winner of the second semifinal between England and Argentina, while France will compete in the third-place playoff against the losing semifinalist.

Football analysts say Spain's run to the final reflects the success of the country's long-term rebuilding project. The combination of experienced leaders such as Rodri and emerging stars including Lamine Yamal has transformed La Roja into one of the tournament's most balanced teams and a leading contender to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy.