ARLINGTON, Texas -UNS : Spain produced a superb all-round performance to defeat tournament favourites France 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final on Tuesday, booking their place in the final with a display of tactical discipline and midfield dominance.
The European champions took control of the contest early and were rewarded in the 20th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after rising star Lamine Yamal was brought down inside the box. Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro, sealing a memorable victory at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
With the win, Spain advance to the World Cup final, where they will face either Argentina or England on Sunday in New Jersey.
France entered the match as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders, boasting a star-studded attack led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, and Michael Olise. However, Spain’s organized defense and commanding midfield prevented Les Bleus from finding their rhythm.
The Spanish midfield trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo controlled possession throughout the game, consistently outplaying France’s central pairing of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni.
France’s difficulties increased when key defender William Saliba was forced off injured in the first half, further disrupting their defensive structure.
Despite a few promising moments from Mbappe and company, France struggled to create clear scoring opportunities as Spain maintained control and comfortably protected their lead.
The victory marks another impressive chapter in Spain’s World Cup campaign, bringing the 2010 champions within one win of lifting football’s most prestigious trophy for a second time.
