Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final with a 2–0 victory over France in the semi-final on 14 July 2026 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured the win as Spain ended France’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final.
Spain delivered a disciplined performance against one of the tournament’s most prolific attacking teams. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the penalty area. Although Yamal later had a goal ruled out for offside, Spain maintained control through their structured midfield and organised defence.
France, led by captain Kylian Mbappé, struggled to create clear scoring opportunities against Spain’s compact defensive shape. The European champions doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished a well-worked move involving Dani Olmo. Spain continued to dominate possession and successfully limited France’s attacking threat for the remainder of the match.
The victory sent Spain into the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010. France, runners-up in 2022, saw their run end in the semi-finals and moved into the third-place playoff. Spain also extended their unbeaten run to 37 international matches dating back to March 2024.
Standout Performances
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): Scored the opening goal from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute.
- Pedro Porro (Spain): Added Spain’s second goal in the 58th minute.
- Dani Olmo (Spain): Provided the assist for Pedro Porro’s goal.
- Spain: Recorded their sixth clean sheet in seven matches at the tournament.
Spain’s early penalty gave them control of the match, but Pedro Porro’s goal in the 58th minute proved decisive. The two-goal cushion allowed Spain to manage the remainder of the contest while preventing France from mounting a comeback.
Match Statistics
- Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Round: Semi-final
- Date: 14 July 2026
- Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Final Score: France 0–2 Spain
- Half-time: France 0–1 Spain
- Goals:
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Penalty, 22′)
- Pedro Porro (58′)
- Result: Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.