Spain have booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the tournament’s first semi-final at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.

Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute, converting from the penalty spot after Lucas Digne was penalised for a foul on 19-year-old winger, Lamine Yamal inside the box. Oyarzabal sent goalkeeper Mike Maignan the wrong way to give La Roja a deserved lead in a first half that had been largely cagey, with both sides feeling each other out.

Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro, who capped off a slick one-two with Dani Olmo before slotting calmly past Maignan to make it 2-0. The goal capped a defensive masterclass from Luis de la Fuente’s side, who restricted France’s vaunted attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise to just 0.3 expected goals from ten shots, only three of which tested Unai Simón’s goal.

France, who entered the tournament as favourites on the back of a devastating attack, endured a frustrating night in Texas. Didier Deschamps threw on Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki in search of a way back into the game, but Les Bleus could not break down a Spanish backline that has now conceded just once in seven matches at this World Cup.

Mbappé picked up a yellow card late on for a foul on Simón as the game slipped away from France, who were also dealt a blow when defender William Saliba was forced off with an apparent back injury.

The result extends Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run to 37 matches over two years and sends them into a second World Cup final in their history, 16 years after Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time winner sank the Netherlands in South Africa.

Spain will now await the winner of Wednesday’s second semi-final between Argentina and England, with the final set for Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium.

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