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Spain beats France 2-0 to book World Cup final spot
Spain defeated France 2‑0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi‑final at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on 14 July, securing their first final appearance since 2010. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a first‑half penalty after a foul on Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro added a second‑half finish to seal the win. Spain controlled possession throughout, completing a tournament‑record unbeaten run and limiting France to just ten shots and an expected‑goals value of 0.3.
France’s campaign ended abruptly, prompting captain Kylian Mbappé to take responsibility and cite tactical and technical shortcomings, including being outnumbered in midfield. Coach Didier Deschamps, who announced his departure after the tournament, described the defeat as a “whimper” and acknowledged Spain’s superiority. The loss also marked the end of Deschamps’ long tenure, during which he managed a record 26 World Cup matches.
Pre‑match and post‑match coverage also featured betting promotions tied to the encounter, as multiple bookmakers offered bonuses for goals and match outcomes.