Spain beats France 2-0 to reach World Cup 2026 final

Spain defeated France 2‑0 in the World Cup 2026 semifinal held in Arlington, Texas, securing a place in the tournament final. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute and Pedro Porro added a second at the 58th minute. The Spanish side will meet either Argentina or England in the final on 19 July.

French captain Kylian Mbappé described the loss as a disappointment, saying the team “was not at the level of a semifinal”. Coach Didier Deschamps admitted that “Spain showed they play at another level” and praised their control of the game. Mid‑fielder Rayan Cherki, speaking afterwards, declared: “The team that beat us was ourselves.”

Spain’s captain Rodri highlighted the collective effort, noting that “we neutralised the opponent and imposed our rhythm”. Coach Luis de la Fuente called Spain “the best team in the world” and affirmed that the squad will aim to lift the trophy. The defeat ends France’s hopes of a third consecutive final appearance after their 2018 title and 2022 runner‑up finish.