Spain vs France: Match Summary
Spain produced a confident and disciplined performance to defeat France 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secured a historic victory and booked Spain’s place in their first World Cup final since 2010.
The European champions controlled the game from start to finish. France struggled to create clear chances, while Spain looked calm in possession and dangerous whenever they attacked.
Now, La Roja are just one win away from lifting another World Cup trophy.
Spain Take the Lead Through Oyarzabal
The opening stages were balanced, with both teams trying to settle into the match.
France’s Adrien Rabiot fired a volley wide, while Spain’s Alex Baena saw a free-kick blocked by the defensive wall.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute. Lucas Digne accidentally caught Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area while attempting to clear the ball.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and confidently converted the penalty. His powerful finish gave goalkeeper Mike Maignan no chance and handed Spain a deserved 1-0 lead.
It was Oyarzabal’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him one of the standout performers of the World Cup.
France Could Not Find a Response
France had very few meaningful opportunities during the first half.
Bradley Barcola fired over the crossbar in their best chance before halftime. At the other end, Spain nearly doubled their advantage after a brilliant passing move, but Dayot Upamecano made an important last-second interception.
Spain entered the break with full control of the match.
Pedro Porro Doubles Spain’s Advantage
Spain continued to dominate after halftime.
In the 58th minute, Pedro Porro combined beautifully with Dani Olmo before making a smart run into the penalty area. He calmly finished past Mike Maignan to make it 2-0.
Only a few minutes later, Lamine Yamal thought he had scored a spectacular third goal after dribbling past Lucas Digne and curling the ball into the net.
However, the assistant referee ruled the goal out for offside.
France’s Attack Failed to Deliver
Kylian Mbappe tried to inspire a comeback during the second half.
His low shot across goal looked dangerous, but Marc Cucurella produced an excellent block to send the ball just wide.
France received another opportunity after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made a rare mistake outside his box. However, Simon recovered quickly to deny Desire Doue and protect Spain’s clean sheet.
Despite having possession late in the match, France never looked capable of mounting a serious comeback.
Spain Continue Their Dominance Over France
This result extended Spain’s impressive recent record against France.
Spain have now won three consecutive knockout meetings against Les Bleus, including victories in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, the UEFA Nations League semi-final, and now the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final.
Their tactical discipline, midfield control, and defensive organization once again proved too strong for France.
Mikel Oyarzabal Continues Outstanding Form
Mikel Oyarzabal has become one of Spain’s most important players.
His penalty against France was his fifth goal of the tournament.
Since the beginning of 2025, he has contributed 24 goal involvements for Spain across all competitions, including 17 goals and seven assists.
Among Spain’s all-time major tournament scorers, only David Villa, Alvaro Morata, and Fernando Torres have scored more goals than Oyarzabal.
Dani Olmo Reaches Historic Milestone
Dani Olmo once again demonstrated his creativity by assisting Pedro Porro’s goal.
The assist moved him level with Cesc Fabregas for the most assists by a Spanish player in major international tournaments since 1980.
His vision and passing continue to play a key role in Spain’s attacking success.
also See
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- Spain vs Belgium Head-to-Head Record: Complete History Before Their FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal Clash
- https://www.fifa.com/
France’s Disappointing Exit
France entered the semi-final with high expectations but failed to deliver.
The team managed only a handful of shots on target and created very few clear scoring opportunities throughout the match.
Kylian Mbappe was well contained by Spain’s defense and had little influence in the final third.
Manager Didier Deschamps also saw his remarkable World Cup coaching journey come to an end as France were eliminated before the final.
What’s Next for Spain?
With this victory, Spain have reached their second FIFA World Cup final.
Their previous appearance came in 2010, when they defeated the Netherlands to win the tournament for the first time.
Spain will now face either England or Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final as they chase another historic title.
Spain vs France Match Highlights
- Result: Spain 2-0 France
- Goals: Mikel Oyarzabal (Penalty, 22′), Pedro Porro (58′)
- Player of the Match: Mikel Oyarzabal
- Venue: Dallas Stadium
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-final
Final Thoughts
Spain delivered a mature, well-organized, and clinical performance to defeat France 2-0 and secure their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
With standout performances from Mikel Oyarzabal, Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo, and a disciplined defensive unit, La Roja looked every bit like championship contenders.
If Spain produce another display like this in the final, they will have an excellent chance of becoming world champions once again.
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