The essentials
Spain beats France 2-0 in semifinal, reaches World Cup final with 37-game unbeaten streak.
Spain defeated France 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal, advancing to the championship match and eliminating France from tournament contention. Lamine Yamal drew a penalty after a foul by Lucas Digne, providing a decisive moment in Spain's dominant performance at Arlington, Texas.
Spain's defense contained France's attacking threat, including Kylian Mbappé, recording their sixth shutout of the tournament. The result marks Spain's first final appearance since 2010 and extends their remarkable run—Spain maintains a 37-game unbeaten streak heading into the final.
France is eliminated from the tournament, missing a third consecutive final appearance after reaching the championship match in both 2018 and 2022. The defeat ends France's campaign after progressing through five consecutive group-stage victories and a quarterfinal redemption win over Morocco, who had eliminated them in 2022. Spain will face Argentina or England in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the Spanish demonstrating defensive resilience and offensive efficiency in knockout competition.
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Spain completes redemption arc with dominant semifinal victory
Spain's semifinal victory against France marks a remarkable defensive and tactical accomplishment. After defeating France in Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League, Spain now advances to their first World Cup final since 2010. Six shutouts throughout the tournament demonstrate sustained defensive excellence, establishing Spain as serious championship contenders heading into the final.
France's unbeaten run ends in semifinal, third final disappointment
France's tournament campaign concludes after progressing through five consecutive group-stage victories and a quarterfinal victory over Morocco. Elimination means France misses a third consecutive final appearance, representing a significant tournament disappointment for a team that arrived with substantial domestic confidence and momentum through knockout stages.