DALLAS: Spain secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after defeating France 2-0 in the tournament’s first semifinal, ending a 16-year wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.
The match, played in Dallas, saw Spain produce a disciplined and attacking performance to overcome the 2018 world champions and book their place in the final.
Spain made a confident start, pressing high and creating early chances against the French defense.
The opening goal came in the 22nd minute, when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty kick to give Spain a deserved lead. The goal marked Oyarzabal’s fifth of the tournament, further underlining his importance to Spain’s World Cup campaign.
France attempted to respond with sustained periods of possession but struggled to break down Spain’s organized defense.
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro, who scored with a powerful strike to make it 2-0 and put his side firmly in control of the semifinal.
France pushed forward in search of a comeback, but Spain remained compact at the back and prevented their opponents from creating clear-cut scoring opportunities.
French captain Kylian Mbappé, who entered the match as one of the tournament’s leading scorers with eight goals, was unable to find the net despite several attempts. Spain’s defense successfully contained the star forward throughout the contest.
The victory sends Spain into their first FIFA World Cup final since 2010, when they won the tournament for the first time by defeating the Netherlands in South Africa.
Reaching the final marks a significant achievement for the Spanish national team, which has rebuilt its squad around a new generation of players while combining youthful talent with experienced leadership.
Spain will now await the winner of the second semifinal between Argentina and England, scheduled to be played on Thursday, to determine their opponent in the World Cup final.
With an impressive defensive display and clinical finishing, Spain moved one step closer to lifting the World Cup trophy once again, while France’s campaign came to an end despite another strong tournament and the outstanding performances of several key players.
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