Spain 2-0 France
The first finalist of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was decided on July 14. At the stadium in Arlington, Spain produced a convincing 2-0 victory over France to reach the final for the first time since their tournament triumph in 2010.
The semi-final was anticipated as a clash between two distinct footballing philosophies. While the French relied on the explosive pace of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and other attacking stars, Spain remained true to their tradition of ball retention and controlling the tempo. In the end, the Spanish game plan proved to be far more effective.
Oyarzabal opens the scoring from the spot
The opening goal arrived in the 22nd minute. Lamine Yamal burst into the penalty area and drew a foul from Lucas Digne. Mikel Oyarzabal clinically converted the resulting penalty to give Spain a 1-0 lead.
The goal marked Oyarzabal's 30th for the national team. He becomes one of just six players in the history of the Spanish national team to reach this milestone.
France looked to respond after going behind, but the Spaniards gave their opponents almost no room to create any genuine threats. Mbappé, Dembélé, and Michael Olise were frequently forced to receive the ball far from the goal, nullifying their ability to utilize their pace.
Porro seals the win
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute. Pedro Porro linked up brilliantly with Dani Olmo before surging into space and finishing the move with a precise strike to make it 2-0. The defender's performance earned him the Man of the Match award.
The French coaching staff made several substitutions to bring on fresh attacking talent, but they were unable to turn the tide. The Spanish defense remained composed, while goalkeeper Unai Simón ensured a clean sheet.
This marked Spain's sixth clean sheet of the tournament. Having conceded just one goal in seven matches, the team demonstrated that they are capable of both elegant attacking football and near-flawless defending.
French stars held scoreless
The primary disappointment of the evening was France's lack of attacking output. Despite boasting one of the most star-studded squads in the tournament, the team failed to find any openings in front of the Spanish penalty area.
The French ramped up the pressure at times, particularly in the closing stages, but their shots were either blocked by defenders or saved by Unai Simón. Spain maintained firm control of the midfield, preventing their opponents from translating the individual brilliance of Mbappé and Dembélé into genuine scoring opportunities.
The defeat also ended France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. Didier Deschamps' side will now head into the third-place play-off.
Spain back among the elite
The victory over France continues an impressive run for the Spanish national team. The side has not lost a competitive match since March 2024, a period during which they won Euro 2024 and have now reached the World Cup final.
Spain once again confirmed their status as one of the most balanced teams in the tournament. The experience of Rodri, Olmo, and Oyarzabal blends perfectly with the energy of their young players, most notably Lamine Yamal.
In the final on July 19, the Spaniards will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina. This will be an opportunity for Spain to secure their second world title following their 2010 triumph.
Key takeaway from July 14: Spain earned a deserved victory over France, kept yet another clean sheet, and took the final step toward the most prestigious match in global football.
The next semi-final: England vs Argentina takes place today, July 15, 2026.
