The essentials
Spain beats France 2-0 in World Cup semifinal to reach the final for the first time since 2010.
Spain defeated France 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal in Arlington, Texas, advancing to the championship match. The victory marks Spain's first final appearance since 2010 and extends their remarkable tournament run.
Lamine Yamal drew a penalty after a foul by Lucas Digne, providing a decisive moment in Spain's dominant performance. Spain's defense contained France's attacking threat, including Kylian Mbappé, recording their sixth shutout of the tournament.
France is eliminated from the tournament, missing a third consecutive final appearance after reaching the championship match in both 2018 and 2022. The French team had arrived at the semifinals undefeated following five consecutive group-stage victories and a quarterfinal win over Morocco.
Spain maintains a 37-game unbeaten streak heading into the final against either Argentina or England in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The result demonstrates Spain's defensive resilience and offensive efficiency in knockout competition, reinforcing their status as serious championship contenders after defeating France for the third consecutive time in a major tournament.
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Spain's pathway to the final: unbeaten and dominant
Spain's journey to the 2026 World Cup final reflects consistent performance across multiple tournament stages. The team maintained a 37-game unbeaten streak through group play and knockout competition. Six shutouts across the tournament demonstrate defensive solidity. The semifinal victory over France represents the culmination of Spain's knockout stage advancement, establishing them as championship contenders entering the final.
France's elimination ends bid for third consecutive final
France's World Cup campaign concludes after reaching two consecutive finals in 2018 and 2022. Despite arriving at the semifinals undefeated with five group-stage victories and quarterfinal redemption over Morocco, the team could not overcome Spain's defensive structure. Kylian Mbappé's attacking threat was contained in the 2-0 defeat, highlighting the performance gap between the semifinalists in this decisive knockout match.