ARLINGTON, Texas — Spain is back in the FIFA World Cup final after a 2-0 semifinal win over France on Tuesday, leaning again on a tournament-long defensive run that has produced six shutouts in seven games.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after teenager Lamine Yamal drew a foul in the area, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th to send the 2010 champions into their second World Cup final. Spain will play either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente framed the result as a statement against elite opposition. “They were facing the best team in the world,” he said of his players, referencing France’s status as FIFA’s top-ranked side.
How Spain built the 2-0 semifinal win
The breakthrough came from Yamal’s pressure on a loose moment in France’s back line. After Lucas Digne’s poor first touch with his head, the defender tried to clear the ball as Yamal raced in from behind to challenge inside the penalty area. The ball hit off the teenager’s elbow as he jumped, and he was then kicked by Digne, prompting the penalty decision.
Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute for his fifth goal of this World Cup. The strike also carried a notable tournament context: it marked the first time either Spain or France had trailed in their seven matches at this World Cup. The goal was also Oyarzabal’s 30th in 60 international appearances for Spain.
France, led by captain Kylian Mbappé alongside Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise (who entered with a tournament-high five assists), struggled to turn possession into clear chances. Mbappé finished with three shots, none on target. He later pointed to Spain’s control and defensive structure: “It’s a team who loves to have control of the game, control of the ball. That’s what we let them do,” Mbappé said. “It’s difficult when you don’t change the play of Spain.”
Spain had additional opportunities to extend the lead before halftime. In the eighth minute, Adrien Rabiot was booked for a foul on Dani Olmo, setting up a free kick from just beyond the box, but Alex Baena’s attempt went directly into the wall. Later, in the 38th minute, France goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s attempted clearing pass went straight to Baena, sparking a quick passing sequence that ended with Fabian Ruiz having a close-range effort denied by Dayot Upamecano.
The second goal arrived in the 58th minute through a give-and-go involving Porro and Olmo. Porro broke free and received the return pass from Olmo, who got his touch away just before being knocked off his feet by Upamecano. Porro finished the move to make it 2-0, and later summed up Spain’s collective edge: “We knew that we’re a very tough team, we’re doing things really well,” he said.
Yamal nearly added another highlight shortly after, but a close offside call denied him a goal a day after his 19th birthday. Even without scoring, his influence was central to the opening goal and Spain’s ability to keep France chasing.
France coach Didier Deschamps credited Spain’s organization while lamenting his side’s execution. “Spain has been able to defend well,” he said through a translator. “They’ve closed out all the spaces and also we’ve made some technical mistakes. So it is difficult to create problems when the technical level is below standard.”
What the result means for Spain and France
Spain’s latest shutout continued a dominant defensive trend at this World Cup, with the team allowing only one goal in the tournament so far. Goalkeeper Unai Simón’s only concession came in the quarterfinal against Belgium, a match that also ended his World Cup record run of 650 scoreless minutes.
Spain has outscored opponents 12-1 since a scoreless draw against Cape Verde in its group opener, and the run has also extended the team’s unbeaten streak in regular time to 37 matches (28 wins and nine draws) since March 2024, breaking the country’s previous record of 35 set from 2007-09.
For France, the loss ended a record-matching streak of six consecutive World Cup wins, a run the team also achieved in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Instead of chasing a third straight World Cup final appearance, France will now play the third-place match in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday.
Spain, meanwhile, moves on to Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, with Argentina and England set to meet Wednesday in Atlanta for the other semifinal. “So difficult to get to this moment, but we want more,” Spain midfielder Rodri said. “We want to win this World Cup.”