Spain eliminates France from World Cup contention with semi-final victory
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro secure Spain’s place in the title match, ending France’s campaign despite their status as favourites.
Spain has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final following a decisive 2-0 victory over France in the semi-final fixture. The match, contested on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, concluded the tournament campaign for the French side, who had entered the encounter as the competition’s favourites.
The result was driven by goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, providing the decisive margin for the European champions. While the specific timing of the individual goals was not recorded in available reports, the scoreline reflected a comprehensive performance by the Spanish side, who controlled the tempo of the semi-final encounter against their opponents.
The defeat eliminates France from contention for the title, halting their bid to reach the final. The outcome has sparked divergent reactions among supporters, with Spanish fans expressing delight at the result. One sentiment circulating among the Spanish contingent in Dallas was a declaration that they had given the French a proper trashing, while French supporters expressed disappointment following the loss.
Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal drew attention for a social media message posted in the immediate aftermath of the victory. The Barcelona player wrote “Spain in the final! pardon, pardon” accompanied by a crying emoji, a statement that was widely interpreted as a taunt against the eliminated French team.
Spain will now await the outcome of the other semi-final between England and Argentina to determine their opponent in the championship match. The 2026 World Cup final is scheduled to take place in New Jersey on Sunday.
