France vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final Video Highlights

Spain advanced to the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after delivering a comprehensive 2-0 victory over European rivals France at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The highly anticipated semi-final clash saw Luis de la Fuente’s side control the tempo early on, frustrating a star-studded French lineup spearheaded by captain Kylian Mbappé. FIFA WC 2026: Spain Defeats France 2-0 To Reach World Cup Final.

The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute when winger Lamine Yamal was clipped inside the area by Lucas Digne. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up to take the resulting penalty, calmly striking it past France’s spot-kick specialist Mike Maignan to give La Roja a deserved lead. The goal marked Oyarzabal's 30th international strike, making him only the sixth player in history to reach that milestone for the Spanish national team.

France vs Spain Semi-Final Video Highlights

France suffered an early blow to their defensive stability when centre-back William Saliba was forced off mid-way through the first half due to a back injury. Didier Deschamps’ side attempted to claw their way back after the interval, introducing creative sparks Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki to unlock Spain's defensive line.

However, Spain amplified their advantage in the 58th minute through a fluid attacking sequence. Full-back Pedro Porro played a precise one-two with Dani Olmo, collected the return pass impeccably, and buried a low effort into the bottom corner. The goal stunned the 2022 finalists and left France with a mountain to climb in the final half-hour.

Faced with a two-goal deficit, France pushed forward but struggled to break down Spain’s resolute back line. Midfielder Rodri anchored the engine room effortlessly, allowing Spain to control possession and disrupt the transition play of Les Bleus. Whenever France threatened to break, goalkeeper Unai Simón acted astutely as a sweeper-keeper to clear any danger.

Kylian Mbappé found himself heavily marshalled throughout the afternoon. His best look of the second half was shut down by an excellent, timed challenge from left-back Marc Cucurella. Frustration grew for the French skipper, who picked up a late yellow card in the 86th minute as Spain successfully ran down the clock to secure a clean sheet.

The final whistle triggered ecstatic celebrations from the Spanish contingent as they booked their ticket to the showpiece final on Sunday, 19 July at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final clash between England and Argentina as they hunt for their second-ever World Cup trophy.

For France, the defeat marks a heartbreaking conclusion to their campaign, leaving them to contest the third-place play-off match on Saturday. Speaking after the match, Mbappé accepted full responsibility for the tactical shortfalls, conceding that France simply lacked the necessary quality on the day to overcome a superior Spanish collective.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 15, 2026 06:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).