Spain Ends France’s World Cup Streak with 2-0 Semifinal Victory in Arlington

Spain secured a 2-0 victory over France in the FIFA World Cup semifinal behind goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.

Spain defeated France 2-0 in their FIFA World Cup semifinal at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. The victory, secured by a first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and an early second-half strike by Pedro Porro, sends Luis de la Fuente’s squad to the final in East Rutherford on July 19. This result marks the third consecutive win for La Roja against their European rivals, following triumphs in the 2024 European Championship and the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals. By winning this Spain vs France semifinal, the Spanish national team ended Les Bleus' attempt to reach a third straight World Cup final, a milestone previously reached only by West Germany (1982–1990) and Brazil (1994–2002).

The scoring opened when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty kick after Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the area. France’s defensive stability suffered further in the 30th minute when center back William Saliba exited the match with a back injury. Didier Deschamps was forced to utilize Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix as a substitute for the injured Saliba. Despite the presence of stars Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé, France failed to find the net before the intermission, trailing 1-0 at the break. Spain’s defensive effort was anchored by Rodri, who functioned as the team's metronome, diffusing French threats while maintaining possession in the midfield.

Second Half Tactical Changes and Porro’s Strike

France entered the second half facing historical odds, as only Argentina (1990) and Croatia (2018) had previously overturned halftime deficits in a World Cup semifinal. Deschamps attempted to spark a comeback by introducing Manu Koné for Adrien Rabiot at the start of the period. Shortly after, Désiré Doué replaced Bradley Barcola. However, Spain extended their lead to 2-0 when Pedro Porro escaped his marker during a team move and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Porro later noted that the team's collective strength was the deciding factor rather than individual performances.

Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón protected the two-goal cushion with several key saves as France’s frustration mounted against a consistent Spanish press. The match grew physical in the closing stages, specifically in the 86th minute. Kylian Mbappé received a yellow card after colliding with Simón while the goalkeeper was stooping to retrieve the ball. The incident left the Spanish keeper on the grass but did not alter the scoreline. Mbappé finishes his tournament with eight goals, currently tied with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead, though Messi and Harry Kane (six goals) remain active in the competition.

Historical Milestones and the Road to East Rutherford

With this result, Spain has equaled Italy’s all-time record of 37 consecutive games without a loss. This marks only the second time in Spanish history that the men's senior team has reached a World Cup final. Rodri emphasized the maturity of the squad, stating that composure was the primary key to managing the pressure of the big moment. The Spanish side now awaits the winner of the second semifinal between England and Argentina to determine their opponent for the championship match on July 19.

France will travel to Miami Gardens, Florida, to compete in the third-place game on Saturday. They will face whichever team loses the Wednesday semifinal. The defeat concludes a dominant era for the French squad, which had appeared in the previous two World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022. For Spain, the victory solidifies their status as European Champions and puts them one win away from their second world title. Information from The Associated Press and ESPN Global Research contributed to these findings.