Spain send France home following 2-0 semifinal win
Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after defeating France 2-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal at Dallas Stadium.
Spain took control of the contest in the first half and maintained their dominance throughout the match. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot after France conceded a spot kick, giving Luis de la Fuente’s side a deserved advantage before halftime.
France struggled to create clear-cut chances despite the presence of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in attack. Their problems were compounded when defender William Saliba was forced off with an injury midway through the first half, disrupting Didier Deschamps’ defensive plans.
After the break, Spain continued to dictate possession and doubled their lead through Pedro Porro in the 58th minute. The goal left France with a mountain to climb as Spain remained compact at the back and denied their opponents space in the final third.
Although France pushed forward in the closing stages, Spain’s disciplined defence stood firm. The European champions limited Les Bleus to few meaningful opportunities and comfortably protected their two-goal advantage until the final whistle.
The result extends Spain’s impressive run under coach Luis de la Fuente, who has enjoyed repeated success against France in knockout competitions. It also sends Spain into Sunday’s World Cup final with confidence after another commanding display.
For France, the defeat marks a disappointing end to an otherwise strong tournament campaign. Les Bleus had reached the semifinals after victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco but were unable to overcome a well-organized Spanish side.
Spain will now face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between England and Argentina in the World Cup final, while France will contest the third-place playoff.
