ARLINGTON (Kashmir English): Spain defeated France 2-0 in the first semifinal match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
With this win, Spain secured their ticket to Sunday’s grand final.
The highly anticipated clash between Spain and France tilted heavily in favour of La Roja. Spain dictated the pace of the game from the opening whistle, suffocating the French frontline.
Meanwhile, France faced an uphill battle after trailing for the first time in the entire tournament and suffering a critical defensive injury blow.
In the 22nd minute, Lamine Yamal drew a foul from Lucas Digne inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal coolly converted the resulting penalty kick into the right side of the net to put Spain up 1-0.
In the 30th minute key French central defender William Saliba was forced off the pitch due to an injury and replaced by Maxence Lacroix, destabilizing France’s backline.
The 58th minute of the game brought another goal for Spain when Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s lead.
In the 74th minute, Lamine Yamal appeared to put Spain 3-0 ahead with a sharp finish, but the goal was ruled out by the referee for a narrow offside.
FIFA World Cup Final on Sunday
With this victory, Spain moves on to the World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19, where they will face the winner of the second semifinal match between England and Argentina.
