Spain have become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup final after producing an impressive performance against France. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro earned La Roja a deserved 2-0 victory and their first appearance in the tournament’s decisive match since 2010.

Spain control the World Cup semi-final

Luis de la Fuente’s players established control almost immediately. Spain patiently circulated possession, moved the French defensive structure from side to side and denied their opponents opportunities to launch dangerous counter-attacks.

France had relied heavily on the pace and individual quality of their attacking players throughout the tournament. Against Spain, however, they were rarely able to find space behind the defence or create clear shooting opportunities.

The Spanish midfield dictated the tempo, while the defensive line remained compact whenever possession was lost. France produced arguably their weakest first-half performance of the entire tournament, struggling both to retain the ball and to progress it into threatening areas.

Spain’s pressure eventually produced the opening goal before the interval. Lucas Digne mistimed his challenge on Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a spot kick.

Oyarzabal stepped forward and calmly converted the penalty, sending Mike Maignan the wrong way and giving Spain a fully deserved lead.

The goal was Oyarzabal’s fifth of the 2026 World Cup. It also took his international tally for the 2025/26 season to 14, allowing him to surpass David Villa’s previous record for the most goals scored by a Spanish player during a single national-team campaign.

Pedro Porro seals Spain’s place in the final

France were expected to respond after the break, but the pattern of the match remained unchanged. Spain continued to dominate possession and prevented their opponents from building any sustained attacking momentum.

The decisive second goal arrived in the 58th minute. Spain constructed another fluid team move before the ball reached Pedro Porro, who finished the attack with a powerful and accurate strike beyond Maignan.

Porro’s goal completed an outstanding individual performance from the Tottenham Hotspur right-back. He had not been widely identified as one of Spain’s potential tournament leaders before the competition, but his displays have made him one of the most important figures in De la Fuente’s team.

Lamine Yamal appeared to add a third goal only a few minutes later. The winger found the net after another dangerous Spanish attack, but the effort was ruled out because of a narrow offside decision.

That setback had no effect on Spain’s control. Rather than retreating and defending their advantage close to their own penalty area, La Roja continued to press, retain possession and search for openings.

France eliminated after disappointing display

France were unable to create the pressure normally associated with a team chasing a place in a World Cup final. Despite having several elite attacking players available, Deschamps’ side generated very few meaningful opportunities.

Their expected-goals figure reportedly finished at approximately 0.26, illustrating how effectively Spain restricted them. France could neither play through the centre nor consistently threaten from wide areas, while their forwards remained largely isolated.

The defeat was particularly painful as it came on July 14, France’s national holiday. More importantly, it ended a tournament in which Les Bleus had previously looked capable of competing for another world title.

Spain were superior in virtually every major aspect of the semi-final. They controlled the ball more effectively, showed greater intensity without possession and executed their tactical plan with far more consistency.

Spain await England or Argentina

Spain will now face either England or Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final. Those teams are due to meet in the second semi-final, with the winner advancing to the tournament’s showpiece match.

La Roja last reached a World Cup final in 2010, when Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time goal against the Netherlands secured the country’s first global title.

Sixteen years later, Spain will have an opportunity to repeat that success. Their victory over France demonstrated that De la Fuente’s team possess more than technical ability. They also have the organisation, discipline and defensive resilience required to win the biggest matches.

After eliminating one of the tournament favourites with a controlled 2-0 performance, Spain will enter the final believing they are capable of becoming world champions for the second time.