Spain secured a place in the 2026 World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over France in Tuesday’s semifinal match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The win ended France’s pursuit of a third World Cup title, halting the two-time champions’ run after impressive attacking performances throughout the tournament.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the first half by converting a penalty awarded after a challenge by France’s Lucas Digne on Spain’s Lamine Yamal. The spot kick was awarded by Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton, a decision that drew criticism from France coach Didier Deschamps following the match. Oyarzabal’s goal marked his fifth of the tournament and capped a strong recent run of 18 goals in 20 appearances for Spain.
Pedro Porro extended Spain’s lead early in the second half after a well-executed team move involving Dani Olmo. Despite trailing, France, featuring stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, struggled to recover and create clear scoring opportunities. Deschamps made a tactical substitution, bringing on Desire Doue for Bradley Barcola to bolster the attack, but France remained unable to break through Spain’s defense.
Spain’s backline and goalkeeper combined to maintain a clean sheet for the sixth time in the tournament, setting a World Cup record for clean sheets in a single edition and extending the team’s unbeaten streak to 37 matches in all competitions—equalling the longest European unbeaten run.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his team’s commitment and consistency, emphasizing their faithfulness to a set playing philosophy that has brought them to the final. “These players deserve everything,” he said, highlighting their solidarity, generosity, and talent throughout the competition.
For France, this defeat marks a setback after reaching the previous two World Cup finals, including their 2018 championship win and the runner-up finish four years ago. Deschamps, who announced that he will step down after the tournament following 14 years in charge, described his players as “devastated” and took responsibility for the loss. However, he raised concerns about the refereeing quality in the semifinal, questioning if the official was up to the standard expected at this stage of the tournament.
The final opponent for Spain will be decided in Wednesday’s second semifinal in Atlanta, where England will face Argentina. The match continues a historic rivalry influenced by political tensions surrounding the Falkland Islands, with memories of Diego Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal from the 1986 World Cup adding extra significance. England captain Harry Kane downplayed the emotional weight of the fixture, focusing instead on the tactical and physical challenges posed by Argentina’s team. Kane remains in contention for the Golden Boot alongside Messi and Mbappe.
The World Cup final is now set to feature Spain against either England or Argentina, with a third-place match scheduled for Saturday involving France and the losing semifinalist.