AFCON 2025
Spain outclassed France 2-0 in Dallas on Tuesday to become the first team to book a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, ending a 16-year wait for a return to the summit of world football.
Mikel Oyarzabal gave the reigning European champions the lead in the 22nd minute, converting a penalty won by Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, finishing off a slick one-two with Dani Olmo to put the result beyond doubt.
The win extended Spain’s dominance over France in recent meetings. La Roja have now beaten Les Bleus in both of their last two encounters, having also defeated France in the semifinals of Euro 2024 on their way to winning that tournament. France’s only previous World Cup victory over Spain came in the 2006 Round of 16.
Spain’s defense continued to impress throughout the tournament, conceding just once heading into the semifinal. Kylian Mbappe, who arrived in Dallas tied atop the Golden Boot race with eight goals, was kept quiet all afternoon and failed to add to his tally.
France suffered a further blow shortly after Spain’s opener when defender William Saliba was forced off with what appeared to be a non-contact back injury, disrupting the team’s defensive setup at a crucial stage.
Yamal, who turned 19 the day before the match, played a starring role in the win, setting up Oyarzabal’s opening goal. The teenager had said beforehand that beating France was part of his birthday wish, with a second World Cup title for Spain the ultimate goal.
Ousmane Dembele forced Unai Simon to make two saves late on in the game as France attempted a comeback.
Spain last reached the World Cup final in 2010, when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 to lift their only title courtesy of a goal by Andres Iniesta in extra-time. Tuesday’s win sets up a shot at a second global crown.
Spain will now await the winner of the second semifinal between England and Argentina, scheduled for Wednesday in Atlanta, to determine their opponent in the final.
