Spain are through to the 2026 World Cup final after beating France 2-0 at Dallas Stadium on July 14, a result that was rarely in doubt once Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute. Pedro Porro sealed it early in the second half, and France, who generated an xG of just 0.30 all night, never looked like finding a way back. Luis de la Fuente’s side advance to meet the finalists from the other semi while Didier Deschamps faces a difficult debrief.
Key Moments
- 9′, Rabiot picks up a yellow card for roughing, an early warning that France’s discipline was under pressure.
- 22′, Oyarzabal steps up and converts a penalty to give Spain the lead, punishing France from the spot.
- 30′, William Saliba is withdrawn before half-time, a forced defensive change that disrupted France’s backline organization.
- 58′, Pedro Porro makes it 2-0 with a normal goal, effectively killing the contest twelve minutes into the second half.
- 86′, Kylian Mbappe receives a yellow card for roughing in a moment that summed up France’s frustrated evening.
Tactical Breakdown
Spain controlled this match without ever needing to shift into a higher gear. They edged possession 51% to 49%, but the key number was xG: Spain generated 1.63 to France’s 0.30, a gap that tells the story of how efficiently La Roja used the ball in dangerous areas. Their five shots inside the box compared to France’s four produced two goals from just two shots on target, while Unai Simón was barely tested, called into action only three times.
The turning point came as early as the 30th minute when Saliba left the pitch in what appeared to be a forced substitution. France’s defensive shape, already under pressure after Rabiot’s early booking, lost further coherence, and Spain’s 4-2-3-1 with Rodri anchoring the midfield dictated the tempo with ease. Porro’s second-half goal arrived just 58 minutes in, right after Spain had seen Oyarzabal subbed off at 74 minutes, suggesting de la Fuente was already managing energy for the final.
France simply could not generate enough in the final third. Ten total shots, only three on target, and seven corners that produced nothing of note reflect an attack that was consistently crowded out. Mbappe was largely isolated, and with Barcola and Olise introduced as attacking changes in the second half failing to alter the dynamic, Deschamps had no answers against a Spain side that defended with the same composure they showed throughout the tournament.
Player Ratings
World Cup knockout bracket
Knockout results, aggregate scores across legs; winners in bold, penalty shootouts noted.
Head to Head
Verdict
Spain advance to the 2026 World Cup final with a performance that was controlled rather than spectacular, and that might be the most worrying thing for whoever faces them next. France, by contrast, exit a tournament in which their attack never found top gear, finishing a semi-final with an xG of 0.30 and no goals to show for Deschamps’ final major tournament in charge. Spain’s reward is a final appearance, and on this evidence, they arrive as favorites.