Spain is one win away from another World Cup title.
La Roja delivered one of its most complete performances of the tournament on Tuesday, defeating France 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington to book its place in Sunday’s final. Spain will face the winner of the England-Argentina semifinal as it chases its second World Cup championship.
From the opening whistle, Spain controlled the tempo.
France entered the match with one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacks, featuring Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. None of them found an answer against Spain’s disciplined defensive structure and dominant midfield.
Spain broke through in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after Lamine Yamal drew a foul inside the area. The goal rewarded Spain’s early pressure and forced France to chase the match.
The European champions never lost control.
Rodri dictated play in midfield, Dani Olmo consistently found space between the lines, and Spain prevented France from establishing any sustained attacking rhythm. Mbappé managed only one shot on target as Spain’s back line continued what has become one of the tournament’s defining strengths.
Pedro Porro doubled the advantage in the 58th minute after combining with Olmo, effectively putting the semifinal beyond France’s reach. Spain continued to dominate possession while limiting France to few clear scoring opportunities during the remainder of the match.
The victory extended Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run to 37 matches dating back to March 2024 and sent the nation to its first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. Throughout this tournament, Spain has combined technical quality with defensive consistency, conceding only one goal in seven matches.
For France, the defeat marked a disappointing end to another World Cup campaign.
After reaching the final in 2022, Les Bleus fell short against a Spanish side that controlled virtually every phase of the match. France struggled to create meaningful chances, while Spain repeatedly demonstrated why many now consider it the favorite to win the tournament.
Spain now stands one victory away from adding another World Cup to its growing collection of international titles.
With its blend of experienced leaders and emerging stars, La Roja has looked like the tournament’s most complete team. One more performance like Tuesday’s would secure another place in football history.
