Spain marched into the FIFA World Cup 2026 final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Monday, 14 July. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro silenced Les Bleus and sent La Roja through to face the winner of the other semi-final — England versus Argentina in Atlanta — later this week.
It was a performance that confirmed Spain’s status as the tournament’s most consistent and cohesive side. From the opening whistle, Luis de la Fuente’s men pressed high and suffocated France’s build-up play, limiting Kylian Mbappé to only fleeting glimpses of the ball in dangerous areas. Spain’s defensive shape was resolute, their transitions razor-sharp, and their clinical edge ultimately proved decisive.
Oyarzabal Breaks the Deadlock from the Spot
The breakthrough arrived on 22 minutes, and it came through the penalty spot. Dani Olmo — outstanding throughout — drove into the French box before being upended by a clumsy challenge. Referee Stéphanie Frappart had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up to convert with cool precision, rolling the ball low to the goalkeeper’s right.
France struggled to respond. Mbappé, who had been so decisive in earlier rounds including the quarter-final against Morocco, found little joy against the disciplined Spanish backline. Marc-André ter Stegen made a sharp save to deny Antoine Griezmann’s free kick just before half-time, but France’s threat felt increasingly blunted.
Porro Puts the Game to Bed
Spain doubled their lead on 58 minutes through right-back Pedro Porro, who arrived late into the box to meet a precise low cross from Nico Williams on the left. Porro’s finish was clinical, side-footing past the goalkeeper from eight yards. It was a goal that reflected Spain’s ability to involve their full-backs as genuine attacking weapons — a hallmark of De la Fuente’s system throughout the tournament.
France’s best chance to salvage something came in the 71st minute when substitute Marcus Thuram latched on to a loose ball in the box, only to see his shot deflect wide via the outstretched boot of Aymeric Laporte. Moments later, Ter Stegen made his most important save of the match, diving low to his right to deny Griezmann from close range after a rare lapse in Spain’s defensive concentration.
Spain’s Journey to the Final
Spain’s path to the final has been a masterclass in collective football. They topped Group B without conceding a goal, knocked out Portugal in a feisty last-16 tie, and dismantled Brazil in the quarter-finals with a display widely regarded as the performance of the tournament. Against France, they produced much of the same — disciplined, incisive, and utterly in control of the game’s tempo.
Pedri, the Barcelona midfielder, was once again central to everything Spain created, pulling strings in the middle of the park and constantly finding pockets of space between the lines. Nico Williams on the left was a constant menace, and Oyarzabal — who had already weighed in with three goals before Monday’s match — was the tournament’s standout striker.
For France, it is a bitterly disappointing exit. Didier Deschamps’ side had their moments, particularly in the early stages of the first half, but could never land a telling blow against a Spain team that rarely looked troubled. Mbappé finishes the tournament without the winner’s medal he craved, though his performances — particularly earlier in the group stage — were among the most electric of any individual player.
Eyes on Sunday’s Final
Spain will now await the outcome of Tuesday’s second semi-final, where England and Argentina meet at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Whichever team emerges will face La Roja in Sunday’s World Cup 2026 final. Should England advance, it would be a repeat of historical rivalries given Spain’s famous victory over England’s predecessors on the world stage. An Argentina final, meanwhile, would pit Spain against the defending champions in what would be a mouth-watering showpiece.
What is beyond doubt is that Spain have been the tournament’s most complete team. De la Fuente has built a side that combines tactical intelligence with individual brilliance, and they will be heavy favourites to lift the trophy when the World Cup concludes on Sunday. For Singapore fans looking to catch the action, free World Cup screenings are available at Kallang Wave Mall Atrium.
Sunday’s final will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with kickoff scheduled for 9pm local time (Monday, 20 July, 12pm SGT).
