Spain silence France 2-0 to reach first World Cup final since 2010 triumph

Spain are through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after dismantling France 2-0 in their semifinal at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday, setting up a Sunday showdown at New York New Jersey Stadium against either England or Argentina.

Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot, becoming the first player to put either side behind across their combined seven matches at this tournament. The foul was won by Lamine Yamal — a day after his 19th birthday — who darted in from behind to challenge Lucas Digne as the France defender attempted to clear an awkward bounce in the penalty area. Yamal was kicked in the process, and Oyarzabal converted to register his fifth goal of the tournament.

Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute with a composed finish after a slick give-and-go with Dani Olmo. Both of Porro’s World Cup goals have come in the knockout rounds.

France, who had conceded just twice in the tournament before kick-off, never found a way through. Didier Deschamps turned to attacking substitutions as early as the first half, but Spain controlled the contest from the opening whistle and kept their sixth clean sheet of the competition.

The result extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 37 international matches, equalling the longest streak in the history of the game — a record Italy set across 2018 to 2021.

Spain’s only previous World Cup final appearance came in 2010, when a solitary Andrés Iniesta goal defeated the Netherlands in Johannesburg. Should they win on Sunday, it would be the nation’s second world title.