Spain underlined their status as the outstanding team of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating France 2-0 in Dallas to book their place in Sunday's final, extending their unbeaten run to a historic 37 matches and moving within one victory of a second world title.
What had been billed as a showdown between the tournament's most feared attack and its stingiest defence ultimately became another demonstration of Spain's tactical maturity, defensive discipline and clinical efficiency under Luis de la Fuente.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro ensured Spain claimed their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory over France, exactly two decades after Les Bleus knocked them out 3-1 in the Round of 16 at Germany 2006.
The victory also completed a remarkable recent dominance over Didier Deschamps' side. Spain has now won each of their last three meetings with France, following victories in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final, the UEFA Nations League semi-final in 2025 and now the biggest meeting of them all on football's grandest stage.
France arrived in Dallas as favourites after producing some of the tournament's most entertaining football, with Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué forming arguably the most dangerous attacking unit in the competition.
Yet Spain completely neutralised them.
Les Bleus failed to register a shot on target until the 81st minute as Rodri dictated proceedings in midfield while Aymeric Laporte marshalled a defence that has become the envy of the tournament.
Photo shows Mikel Oyarzabal after scoring. (Photo: FIFA)
Spain has now conceded just one goal throughout the World Cup, becoming the first nation in FIFA World Cup history to keep six clean sheets in a single edition. France generated only 0.3 expected goals (xG), the lowest figure faced by a team in a World Cup semi-final since Brazil limited Sweden to just 0.1 xG in 1994.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute.
Lucas Digne's mistimed challenge on Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area handed Spain the opportunity they needed, and Oyarzabal calmly dispatched the penalty beyond the goalkeeper to continue his remarkable tournament.
Already one of Spain's most reliable performers, Oyarzabal has now scored five goals at the tournament, equalling the Spanish record jointly held by Emilio Butragueño at Mexico 1986 and David Villa at South Africa 2010.
The strike also elevated him into Spain's exclusive club of players with 30 or more international goals, becoming only the sixth player to reach that milestone after David Villa, Raúl González, Fernando Torres, David Silva and Álvaro Morata.
France hoped to respond after the interval, but instead found themselves chasing shadows.
Spain's midfield trio controlled possession with remarkable composure while their pressing repeatedly denied Mbappé and company the opportunity to attack dangerous spaces.
Their superiority was rewarded again when Pedro Porro combined brilliantly with Dani Olmo before firing home Spain's second goal.
Photo shows Pedro Porro. (Photo: FIFA)
The Tottenham defender has now scored twice during the tournament despite entering the World Cup without a single international goal, having also found the net against Austria earlier in the knockout stages.
While Oyarzabal and Porro grabbed the headlines, Rodri once again reminded the football world why he remains among the game's finest midfielders. The Ballon d'Or winner controlled the tempo throughout, breaking up France's attacks before launching Spain's own, while Fabián Ruiz justified his selection ahead of Pedri with another composed display.
Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal also continued adding remarkable milestones to an already extraordinary international career.
The 18-year-old has now started 12 matches across FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships and has ended on the winning side in every single one of them, the best 100 per cent winning record by any European player to start multiple matches across the two competitions.
Spain's victory also strengthened an astonishing record in major tournaments.
La Roja have now won eight consecutive knockout matches across the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship, becoming the first European nation ever to achieve that feat.
Among European countries to have reached at least two major tournament semi-finals, Spain now boasts the highest progression rate in history, advancing from seven of their eight appearances with a success rate of 88 per cent.
Photo shows Lamine Yamal. (Photo: FIFA)
Their unbeaten streak has also entered the history books.
Spain has now gone 37 matches without defeat in all competitions, comprising 28 victories and nine draws, equalling Italy's all-time European record set between 2018 and 2021.
The consistency has been built around an experienced core that continues rewriting records.
Aymeric Laporte has now played 22 FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship matches without tasting defeat, the highest total by any European player. Mikel Oyarzabal follows with 20 unbeaten appearances, while Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino and Yamal also feature among the longest unbeaten runs in major tournament history.
For France, the defeat marked the end of another World Cup dream and brought the curtain down on Didier Deschamps' remarkable tenure in the cruellest fashion.
Les Bleus were appearing in their eighth World Cup semi-final but suffered their fourth defeat at that stage, ending hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final after finishing champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022.
Spain, meanwhile, will head to New Jersey brimming with confidence as they await either defending champions Argentina or England in the final.
Should La Roja lift the trophy, they would not only secure a second FIFA World Cup title but also cap one of the greatest unbeaten runs ever assembled by a European national team, confirming Luis de la Fuente's side as one of the defining international teams of the modern era.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google