Dallas: Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup final after producing another confident display to defeat France 2 0 in the semifinal at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The European champions controlled the match with disciplined football, quick passing and solid defending, extending their remarkable unbeaten run and moving one step closer to lifting the World Cup trophy.
Spain entered the match as one of the favourites after an outstanding tournament, but they still faced a tough challenge against a France side packed with world class talent. However, from the opening whistle, Spain showed why they have been regarded as the best team of the competition. Their calm approach on the ball and ability to dominate possession left France chasing the game for long periods.
The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute after teenage sensation Lamine Yamal won a penalty when he was brought down inside the penalty area. Experienced forward Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick to give Spain a deserved lead. The goal lifted Spain's confidence even further as they continued to control the tempo while frustrating France's attacking players.
France attempted to respond through captain Kylian Mbappe and wingers Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, but Spain's organised defence allowed very few clear opportunities. Every time France tried to build momentum, Spain's midfield stepped in to regain possession and slow the game down.
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro, who finished a well worked attacking move after combining with Dani Olmo. The second goal effectively ended France's hopes of a comeback as Spain continued to defend with discipline while creating more chances on the counterattack.
Lamine Yamal, who has been one of the stars of the tournament despite his young age, almost added another goal later in the match. His effort found the back of the net but was ruled out for offside. Even without scoring, the young winger played a major role in Spain's victory with his pace, creativity and confidence throughout the game.
Spain's midfield once again proved to be the heart of their success. Rodri controlled the game with his passing and positioning, while Dani Olmo constantly linked the defence and attack. Their ability to dictate possession prevented France from playing their usual fast attacking football.
The victory also highlighted Spain's defensive strength. The team has conceded only one goal during the entire tournament and has kept six clean sheets in seven matches. Their defenders remained calm under pressure and successfully contained one of the strongest attacking lineups in international football.
After the match, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted that Spain had been the better team on the day. He acknowledged that his players struggled to deal with Spain's movement, technical quality and control of possession. French players also accepted that they were unable to create enough meaningful chances against Spain's disciplined defence.
Spain's impressive run has now stretched to 37 matches without defeat since March 2024. Since lifting the UEFA Euro 2024 title, the team has continued to develop into one of the strongest sides in world football by combining experienced players with exciting young talent.
The result also underlined the emergence of a new generation of Spanish stars. Alongside experienced leaders such as Rodri and Oyarzabal, players like Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo have given Spain a fresh attacking edge while maintaining the team's traditional possession based style of football.
With this victory, Spain became the first team to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. They will now face the winner of the second semifinal between England and Argentina. France, meanwhile, will compete in the third place playoff as they aim to finish the tournament on a positive note.
Spain will head into the final full of confidence after another complete performance that showcased their balance, discipline and attacking quality. With only one match remaining, they now stand within touching distance of becoming world champions once again and adding another major trophy to an already remarkable era in Spanish football.