Spain vs France World Cup Semi Final : Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas to reach the World Cup final. Many fans expected a tight, physical game between the two best teams in the tournament. Instead, Spain controlled the entire match with smart defense and sharp finishing.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro scored the goals that sent the European champions to their second-ever World Cup final. France, on the other hand, struggled throughout the night. Even with star players like Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, the French team did not register a single shot on target until the game was already over.
Spain vs France World Cup Semi Final Match Overview: Key Stats From Dallas
Spain showed great team chemistry from the very first minute. France looked like a group of talented players who could not connect with each other.
Spain vs France Match Statistics
How Spain Stopped Mbappe and Olise
Spain’s defense completely shut down the French attack. France started with a highly rated front four, but Spain managed to keep them quiet for 90 minutes.
Stopping Mbappe
Spain kept a close eye on Kylian Mbappe. Every time the French captain tried to cut inside from the left wing, Spain sent a second midfielder to help the defender. This double-team blocked his passing lanes and kept him away from the goal.
Quiet Night for Olise
On the other side, Michael Olise got almost no passes. Spain pressed so fast that France’s midfield had no time to look up and find Olise’s runs. The winger looked frustrated and left the pitch in the 72nd minute without making an impact.
The Big Moments: How Spain Scored the Goals
20th Minute: Yamal Wins a Penalty, Oyarzabal Scores
Nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal set up the first goal. He got the ball on the right wing, beat Lucas Digne with quick footwork, and forced Digne to make a sliding tackle inside the box. The referee pointed to the penalty spot immediately.
Mikel Oyarzabal took the penalty and calmly sent the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
60th Minute: Pedro Porro Seals the Win
The second goal came from great team passing. Dani Olmo saw Pedro Porro running forward from the right-back position. Olmo played a perfect pass into his path, and Porro kicked a low shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Lamine Yamal Makes History Again
Lamine Yamal had another incredible game. Winning the penalty at just 19 years old made him the second-youngest player in the last 60 years to win a penalty in a World Cup knockout match. Only England’s Michael Owen did it at a younger age in 1998.
Yamal completed 24 out of his 27 passes against a very physical French team. After the match, he posted a quick message on Instagram: “New York, we’re coming for you.”
France Struggles on Bastille Day
This loss hurts France deeply. Many hoped this tournament would end Didier Deschamps’ 14-year run as manager with a trophy. Instead, the team went home on Bastille Day after a poor performance.
Total Shots: 4
Shots on Target: 0
Big Chances: 0
Goals: 0
After the game, Kylian Mbappe took full blame for the defeat.
“You take the praise when you win, so you must take the blame when you lose. As the captain, I take full responsibility for this loss.” — Kylian Mbappe
Spain Equals Unbeaten Record
Spain has now played 37 games in a row without a single loss. This streak equals Italy’s record for the longest unbeaten run in international football history.
Spain has also beaten France in three consecutive major tournaments: the Euro 2024 semi-final, the 2025 Nations League semi-final, and now the 2026 World Cup semi-final.
What Lies Ahead on the Road to New York?
Spain will play the final this Sunday in New York. They have a chance to hold both the Euros and the World Cup trophy at the same time.
They will face either England or Argentina. A match against England would repeat the Euro 2024 final, while a game against Argentina would pitch the world’s two best passing teams against each other.