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Spain beat France and reach the 2026 World Cup final
Spain will play in the 2026 World Cup final after beating France 2–0 in a semi-final of enormous emotional and sporting weight. La Roja overcame one of the tournament’s leading favourites and once again put the country on the brink of a historic night, with the chance to fight for its second star.
The match was played at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, and Spain struck first in the 22nd minute. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty won by Lamine Yamal, who was brought down inside the area by Lucas Digne, and changed the script of a semi-final that until then had been defined by tension.
The goal had added significance: France had not fallen behind at any point during the whole World Cup. With patience and personality, Spain forced Didier Deschamps's side to chase the ball and leave the defensive comfort that had sustained it for much of the tournament.
The decisive blow came in the second half, when Pedro Porro made it 0–2 in the 58th minute after a well-worked move. The goal gave Spain breathing space, cooled the French response and allowed Luis de la Fuente's team to manage the final stretch with an authority unusual in a match of this magnitude.
France tried with Kylian Mbappé as their main threat, but came up against a very well-organised Spanish defence and a resolute Unai Simón when the match demanded concentration. La Roja did not merely win: it also conveyed control, maturity and a competitive capacity that brings it closer to the title.
The victory has an immediate impact on the streets. Bars, squares and screens across several cities experienced a night of celebration, with thousands of supporters following a match that began nervously and ended as a party. The final is already shaping plans, journeys, schedules and conversations for the whole week.
Spain will now wait for the winner of the other semi-final, between England and Argentina. The final will be played on Sunday and will bring to a close a World Cup in which the national team has regained a special connection with a young, ambitious and recognisable generation.
The night leaves a powerful image: Spain are back in a World Cup final 16 years after South Africa. The team have not got there through inspiration alone, but through football, character and a blend of youth and experience that has grown round by round to leave them one step away from glory.