The essentials
Spain defeats France 2-0 in World Cup semifinal to reach the final.
Spain advanced to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final by defeating France 2-0 in the semifinal in Arlington, Texas. The victory marks Spain's first final appearance since 2010.
Lamine Yamal drew a penalty after a foul by Lucas Digne, providing a key moment in Spain's dominant performance. Spain's defense contained France's attacking threat, including Kylian Mbappé, recording their sixth shutout of the tournament.
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 final in both 2018 and 2022.
Spain will face Argentina or England in the final on Sunday 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 semifinal.
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Spain's defensive fortress reaches World Cup final
Spain's semifinal victory extends their tournament dominance with a sixth shutout and 37-game unbeaten streak. The team's defensive organization successfully nullified France's attacking threats, including containing Kylian Mbappé. Lamine Yamal's penalty converted a crucial moment into Spain's advancing position, demonstrating clinical finishing alongside defensive excellence. Spain progresses to the final as the tournament's most defensively secure team.
France's World Cup campaign ends in semifinal defeat
France's elimination marks their third consecutive failure to reach the World Cup final, following appearances in 2018 and 2022. Despite entering the semifinal undefeated with five group-stage victories and a quarterfinal redemption win over Morocco, Spain's defensive organization proved insurmountable. France's attacking options, including Kylian Mbappé, were contained throughout the match, resulting in a shutout loss that concludes the nation's tournament campaign.