SPAIN DOMINATE FRANCE TO BOOK FIFA WORLD CUP 2026™ FINAL BERTH

Published: July 14, 2026

Spain produced a masterclass in Dallas, defeating France 2-0 to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final. Luis de la Fuente's side combined defensive discipline with clinical finishing to outclass Les Bleus and move one step closer to lifting football's biggest trophy for the second time in their history.

In front of a packed Dallas Stadium, Spain struck first in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal's pace and skill forced Lucas Digne into a foul inside the penalty area. Experienced forward Mikel Oyarzabal confidently converted the spot kick, beating Mike Maignan to hand La Roja a deserved lead.

France attempted to respond through Kylian Mbappé, but Spain's organized defensive line, marshalled brilliantly by Marc Cucurella and goalkeeper Unai Simón, left Didier Deschamps' men frustrated throughout the opening half.

Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute with one of the finest goals of the tournament. Pedro Porro exchanged a superb one-two with Dani Olmo before calmly placing his finish into the bottom corner, sending the Spanish supporters into celebration and effectively sealing the victory.

Despite introducing attacking talents Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki, France struggled to break through Spain's disciplined defense. Mbappé was repeatedly denied, while Unai Simón's sweeping ability and excellent positioning ensured Spain maintained complete control until the final whistle.

The victory sends Spain into the FIFA World Cup 2026™ final, where they will face the winner of the England-Argentina semifinal at New York New Jersey Stadium. Spain's only previous World Cup final triumph came in 2010, when Andrés Iniesta's unforgettable extra-time goal defeated the Netherlands in Johannesburg.

Match Statistics

France 0-2 Spain

Scorers:

Mikel Oyarzabal (Penalty) – 22' Pedro Porro – 58'

Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match: Pedro Porro (Spain)

Key Numbers

Spain have now kept six clean sheets in seven matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026, conceding only two goals throughout the tournament. Their defensive record equals the benchmark set by previous World Cup champions France (1998), Italy (2006) and Spain themselves in 2010.

Mikel Oyarzabal also reached a significant milestone by scoring his 30th international goal, becoming only the sixth player in Spain's history to achieve that feat.

Reaction

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised his players after the match, describing them as "the best team in the world."

"We started this project almost four years ago with a clear idea, and we've remained faithful to it. Today we defeated one of the world's best national teams because my players are the best team in the world. Their commitment, unity and talent deserve every success."

Goalscorer Pedro Porro admitted reaching the World Cup final was beyond anything he had imagined.

"It's a dream come true. We played a fantastic match against one of the strongest teams in football. This achievement belongs to the entire squad."

France manager Didier Deschamps accepted Spain deserved the victory, although he questioned some refereeing decisions.

"We weren't technically sharp enough. We made too many mistakes with the ball and failed to reach the level required for a World Cup semifinal."

Midfielder Rayan Cherki echoed his coach's assessment, saying France lost control of the midfield battle and struggled to win second balls, allowing Spain to dictate the rhythm of the game.

Spain now stand just one victory away from becoming FIFA World Cup champions once again, while France must quickly regroup before Saturday's third-place playoff, where Kylian Mbappé will also have an opportunity to strengthen his challenge for the adidas Golden Boot.