Spain Stun France 2-1 to Reach the World Cup Final
Spain broke French resistance with two second-half moments of quality to win 2-1 and book a place in the MetLife final.
Dallas delivered a semi-final worthy of the last four. France arrived with knockout steel and Mbappe's threat in behind; Spain arrived with the same patient control that has defined their entire tournament.
Les Bleus led early against the run of play, forcing Spain to chase the game. La Roja never panicked. Pedri and the midfield dictated rest defence distances, Yamal stretched the right channel, and the equaliser arrived just after the hour.
The winner was pure Spain: a recycled attack, a cut-back, and a clinical finish. France threw everything forward in the final minutes but could not force extra time. Spain are World Cup finalists. France drop into the third-place play-off.
The stakes
A place in the 2026 World Cup final. The loser plays for bronze four days later.
The rivalry angle
Modern European football's two schools: French athleticism and vertical threat against Spanish positional control.
Players who could decide it
The teenage wide threat who continually broke France's last line.
France's outlet on the break and their best hope of a second goal.
Did you know?
- !Spain have not lost a knockout match in regulation time all tournament.
- !France were chasing a third straight World Cup final appearance.
- !AT&T Stadium hosted one of the highest-profile semi-finals of the expanded 48-team era.
Head to head
Recent meetings have been tight, tactical affairs where midfield control has usually decided the night.
