Spain Blank France 2-0 to Reach the World Cup Final
Spain produced a masterclass of control and finishing to beat France 2-0 and book a place in the MetLife final.
Dallas delivered a semi-final worthy of the last four. France arrived with knockout steel. Spain arrived with the control that defined their tournament.
The scorers, from the knockout record: Mikel Oyarzabal 22' from the penalty spot, Pedro Porro 58'. Spain 2-0. Attendance 70,176 at AT&T Stadium. Referee Ivan Barton.
France drop into the third-place play-off. Spain go to MetLife.
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
Opened the semi-final from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute.
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.
