Spain secured their place in the 2026 World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday evening. The win sets up a potential rematch of the Euro 2024 final against England, should the Three Lions defeat Argentina in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
First-Half Breakthrough from the Penalty Spot
The deadlock was broken in the first half when Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick, sending the ball past Mike Maignan to give Spain a 1-0 lead.
Pedro Porro Doubles the Lead
Spain doubled their advantage in the second half through Pedro Porro, who lifted the ball over Maignan after a swift counter-attack. The goal effectively ended French hopes, as the 2018 World Cup winners struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match.
Dominant Defensive Display
Spain's performance epitomized their tournament strategy: frustrating opponents with a solid defense and hitting them on the break. Manchester City midfielder Rodri controlled the game from the base of midfield, and France failed to register a single shot on target.
Lamine Yamal thought he had added a third goal with a curling effort into the far top corner, but the strike was ruled out by VAR after he was deemed offside in the buildup.
Road to the Final
Spain's journey to the final includes victories over Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Austria, Portugal, Belgium, and now France. They will face either England or Argentina at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
A meeting with England would be a repeat of the Euro 2024 final, where Spain won 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Oyarzabal. England must first overcome Argentina, with their semifinal scheduled for Wednesday evening.
