Spain are through to the finals of the 2026 World Cup, after dominating France and winning 2-0 in the semi-final.

It just wasn’t France’s day. They were outclassed and outplayed by a very compact Spanish side who gave them no real chance at goal.

Spain are one step closer to glory 🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026

Both teams were cautious when the game started and were very careful in and out of possession. Fans may have expected an open game, but for teams of this calibre, it was always going to be a cagey affair. 

Spain enjoyed more of the opening exchanges but got very little output from it. However, after winning a couple of fouls in different passages of play, Spain got lucky when Digne recklessly fouled Lamine Yamal in the box. 

The defender tried to control a cross and clear the ball, but rather than clearing the ball, he kicked the oncoming Lamine Yamal, who had run into his blind spot. Oyarzabal, who has been Spain’s silent hero, stepped up to take the penalty and he made no mistake as he put it past Maignan, who dived the right way.

That early goal seemed to shake France as they were running in circles defensively for the remainder of the first half. 

France’s first half went from bad to worse as Saliba had to be withdrawn due to an injury, and shortly after, Maignan almost made things worse. His misplaced pass eventually fell to Olmo, who played in Yamal. Yamal then fizzed it across goal for Fabian Ruiz, only to be cleared at the very last by Upamecano.

France had a rare chance at goal when Rabiot played Mbappe through, only for Unai Simon to rush off his line and clear the ball, denying Mbappe a clean run at goal and keeping the score level at half-time.

To start the second half, France made a change in midfield. Kone came on for Rabiot, who had received a booking for a foul on Olmo in the first half.

France struggled to break past Spain’s press or even find any line-breaking passes, and before they could settle and muster any chance, Spain had doubled their lead. This time, it was through Pedro Porro, who calmly slotted a pass from Olmo past Maignan to make it 2-0.

Porro doubles the lead ✌️🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zHvMlH6k3q

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026

With time running out, France threw everything at the Spanish defence but were repelled each time. At the other end, Lamine Yamal nearly made it 3-0 but saw his goal ruled out for offside.

Mbappe had France’s first shot of the game in the second half, but it was deflected off target. France struggled throughout the game, and by the final whistle, they were put out of their misery.  France 0-2 Spain. Spain will now wait to play the winner of the England vs Argentina game in the final, while France will face the loser in the third-place game.