Spain defeats France to reach 2026 World Cup final

DALLAS – Spain booked its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a convincing 2-0 victory over France in the tournament's first semifinal. La Roja controlled much of the match and successfully neutralized France's dangerous attack to secure a deserved place in the championship match.

Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted a penalty after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the penalty area. France searched for an equalizer, but Spain's organized defense kept stars Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise largely under control.

The decisive second goal came in the 58th minute as Pedro Porro finished an excellent team move following a clever assist from Dani Olmo. France increased the pressure during the closing stages, but goalkeeper Unai Simon produced several key saves to preserve Spain's clean sheet.

With the victory, Spain becomes the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup final and will now await the winner of the second semifinal. France's impressive tournament run comes to an end after being outplayed by a disciplined Spanish side.