Second semifinal between England and Argentina will be play today.
Shakeel Ur Rehman
Spain delivered a masterclass in possession football and defensive organization to defeat France 2–0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026, earning a place in Sunday’s final with a commanding display.
Spain started aggressively and controlled the midfield through Rodri, Pedri and Dani Olmo, preventing France from establishing any rhythm. The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal won a penalty after being brought down inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot kick to give Spain a deserved 1–0 lead. Although Yamal had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, he remained Spain’s most dangerous attacking outlet throughout the match.
France attempted to respond through captain Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, but Spain’s defence, marshalled brilliantly throughout the tournament, denied them clear scoring opportunities. The French side struggled to create meaningful chances and rarely tested the Spanish goalkeeper.
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished a slick passing move initiated by Dani Olmo, leaving the French defence with no chance. From that point onward, Spain controlled possession, slowed the tempo and comfortably protected their lead.
The victory extended Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run to 37 international matches since March 2024. Even more impressively, Spain has conceded only one goal throughout the World Cup, underlining the team’s defensive strength alongside its attacking flair.
After the match, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted his side had been second best, praising Spain’s superior tactical discipline while acknowledging that France committed too many technical errors. He also expressed disappointment over several officiating decisions but accepted that Spain deserved the victory.
Spain now advances to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, where it will face the winner of the second semifinal between England and Argentina. France will play in the third-place playoff on 18 July against the loser of that semifinal.
