Spain Reach 2026 World Cup Final with 2-0 Win Over France
Spain booked their spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after a composed 2‑0 victory over France in Tuesday’s semi‑final at Dallas Stadium.
La Roja delivered another assured performance, ending France’s run and earning only the nation’s second World Cup final appearance since their triumph in South Africa in 2010.
The Spaniards started brightly and took the lead in the 22nd minute when Lamine Yamal won a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly sent Mike Maignan the wrong way to give Luis de la Fuente’s side the breakthrough.
France struggled to respond before halftime and suffered another setback when defender William Saliba limped off injured, forcing Didier Deschamps into an early defensive reshuffle.
After the break, Deschamps introduced fresh legs, but Spain tightened their grip on the match. Pedro Porro capped a flowing move in the 58th minute, exchanging passes with Dani Olmo before finishing confidently beyond Maignan to double Spain’s advantage.
Les Bleus pushed for a way back into the game, with Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Aurélien Tchouaméni all going close. Unai Simón, however, remained equal to every test as Spain held firm at the back.
Mbappé also picked up a late yellow card as frustration grew, while Spain comfortably saw out seven minutes of added time to complete a deserved victory.
The result means Spain have kept six clean sheets in seven matches at the tournament and will now face either England or Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
For France, the defeat marks a disappointing end to their campaign and the first World Cup final since 2018 that will not feature Les Bleus. The loss also came on a landmark occasion for Deschamps, who became the first coach to manage 26 World Cup matches.
About the Author
