Spain have qualified for the 2026 World Cup final after beating France 2-0 in the semi-final held at Dallas stadium, reaching the final for the second time in their history after the 2010 edition. They now await the winner of the England-Argentina clash.
The Spanish national team cemented their recent dominance over France, following their victory in the Euro 2024 semi-final and the 2025 UEFA Nations League final.
Spain imposed their authority from the opening whistle with a high press and organised possession, while France looked far below their usual level and were unable to create chances or match Spain's tempo.
Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Mikel Oyarzabal from the penalty spot, awarded by the referee after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the area, giving Spain the advantage following an opening period in which they were clearly dominant in control and dictating the flow of the match.
France suffered a heavy blow when defender William Saliba was forced off injured in the 30th minute, with Maxence Lacroix coming on as his replacement in an attempt to cover the defensive absence.
Spain continued to threaten through quick collective movements and nearly added a second goal with a shot from Fabian Ruiz that was blocked by the defence, while France managed only sporadic attempts that posed no real danger.
The first half ended with a clear Spanish advantage in terms of performance and possession, with defensive and attacking balance, while France made repeated errors and were devoid of attacking solutions in front of goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Coach Didier Deschamps made two substitutions at the start of the second half, bringing on Manu Koné and Désiré Doué in place of Rabiot and Barcola, in an attempt to energise the attacking play and regain the initiative.
But Spain delivered the second blow in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished inside the net following an organised team attack and a brilliant exchange of passes with Dani Olmo, doubling La Roja's lead and steering them steadily towards victory.
Spain's superiority continued as Lamine Yamal scored a third goal in the 61st minute, but the referee disallowed it for offside.
Mbappé attempted to reduce the deficit with a powerful shot in the 67th minute that went just wide of the post, as France — who put in their worst performance of the tournament — failed to register a single shot on target against Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón.
The final minutes passed amid desperate attempts by France's players that posed no real threat to the Matador's goal, before the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Spain's victory. Spain proved their right to reach the final, while France's dream of a third consecutive final appearance ended with their weakest performance at a World Cup.