Spain sink France (2-0) to reach the 2026 World Cup final: Oyarzabal and Porro lead La Roja
Spain are in the 2026 World Cup final. At Arlington's AT&T Stadium, the European champions beat France (2-0) in a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final and once again knocked out Les Bleus. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 22' and Pedro Porro settled it on 58', finishing off a Dani Olmo assist. It was a tight contest —51-49 possession and ten shots each— but Spain were more clinical and had a superb Unai Simón (three saves) to keep a clean sheet. France, with Mbappé subdued and booked, found no way through and bow out in the semi-finals for the second World Cup running. Porro, scorer of a goal and author of a superb display, was named man of the match (8.1). La Roja await their final opponent: the winner of England-Argentina, played on Wednesday.
Spain are in the World Cup final. At Arlington's AT&T Stadium, La Roja repeated the story of Euro 2024 and once again left France at the threshold: a solid 2-0, without shining from start to finish, but ruling the moments that decide these games. Oyarzabal from the spot and Porro after the break built a win that sends Spain into the final on 19 July at the MetLife Stadium, their first since South Africa 2010.
Luis de la Fuente set Spain up in a 4-1-2-3 with Unai Simón in goal, Rodri anchoring midfield and the talent of Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal and Álex Baena ahead. Opposite, Didier Deschamps answered with a 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, the Tchouaméni-Rabiot double pivot and Kylian Mbappé leading a front line completed by Dembélé, Olise and Barcola. A heavyweight duel was expected, and it was, but with Spain sharper in both boxes.
The game took shape early. On 22 minutes, a penalty for Spain was converted with authority by Mikel Oyarzabal for 1-0. La Roja did not dominate the ball as they usually do —the match ended with a razor-thin 51% possession for Spain and 49% for France— but they were more dangerous and knew how to stand firm without abandoning their idea.
France tried to react through the firepower of Mbappé and Dembélé, but crashed again and again into an inspired Unai Simón, author of three fine saves, and a well-drilled Spanish defence. The sense of control grew and, on 58 minutes, the decisive blow arrived: Dani Olmo teed up Pedro Porro, who finished for 2-0 and produced the best display of the night.
Two goals up, Spain managed the game with know-how. France, increasingly hurried, watched Mbappé —booked on 86'— finish blank and flat, a world away from the man who had led the Golden Boot race. The ten shots each reflect an even game in play, but the scoreline and the clearer chances fell Spain's way. Rabiot and Cucurella saw the other yellows of a tense but clean contest, with no red cards.
Spain thus reach a final they have chased for fifteen years. The generation of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Rodri, with the craft of Oyarzabal and the emergence of Porro, are one step from a first world title since 2010. They will face the winner of the England-Argentina tie played on Wednesday. France, runners-up in Qatar 2022, once again bow out in the semi-finals and must wait another four years. La Roja, meanwhile, are already dreaming of New York.