World Cup 2026: Spain edge past France to reach the final

Spain 2, France 0: efficiency over flair in Arlington

Spain are through to the World Cup 2026 final. They beat France 2-0 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, on a cloudy, hot evening, and did so with the calm ruthlessness that has defined their run.

The story is told in the numbers. Spain registered 1.63 expected goals (a measure of chance quality) against France's meagre 0.3, and created three big chances to France's none. Possession was almost even at 51% to 49%, but Spain did more with theirs. Mike Maignan's opposite number was barely troubled; Spain's goalkeeper made three saves, France's none.

France had more shots off target and more crosses — 20 to Spain's 8 — but never found the killer ball. An expected assists figure of 0.85 hints at chances that came and went. Deschamps promised a spectacle. He got a lesson in control instead.

How France and Spain lined up at kick-off

From Oyarzabal's penalty to Porro's decisive strike

France set the tone early in the wrong way, Adrien Rabiot booked inside nine minutes. Spain took charge on 22 when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty to open the scoring. Marc Cucurella joined the caution list on 31.

France reshuffled repeatedly. William Saliba came off for Maxence Lacroix on the half-hour, Manu Koné replaced Rabiot at the interval, and Désiré Doué came on for Bradley Barcola just before the hour. None of it changed the picture.

The decisive blow landed on 58. Daniel Olmo teed up Pedro Porro, who made it 2-0. Deschamps kept rolling the dice — Theo Hernández and Rayan Cherki both on by 72 — while Spain rotated to protect the lead, with Pedri, Mikel Merino, Ferrán Torres, Marcos Llorente and Nico Williams all introduced late. Kylian Mbappé's frustration was summed up by a yellow card on 86. France never mustered the chance they needed.

The community backed France 2-1. It didn't happen.

This one caught almost everyone out. The futbol.so community leaned towards France, with a France 2-1 win the most popular scoreline. The picture was the same across borders: predictors in Argentina, Colombia and Austria all favoured France too.

The official forecast agreed, making France the likeliest winner in a three-way model. And yet the actual result — France 0, Spain 2 — matched the exact scoreline the official model listed. Spain, in other words, delivered the outcome the crowd least expected. A reminder that leaning towards a side and reading a match correctly are not the same thing.

Video highlights

La MAÎTRISE espagnole, l'ARBITRAGE, la DÉCEPTION... Les réactions de France - Espagne

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Résumé : FRANCE – ESPAGNE, les BLEUS ENCORE EN FINALE ?

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France vs. Spain FULL REACTION 🔥 Spain were EXCELLENT & France were a FAILURE! - Leboeuf | ESPN FC

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Francia vs España (0-2) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™

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"L'arbitre a-t-il le niveau d'une 1/2 finale ?" - La réaction de Deschamps après France - Espagne

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OYARZABAL+PORRO, FRANCIA out e SPAGNA in FINALE: Francia-Spagna 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN

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HIGHLIGHTS - France v Spain | Final Beckons | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Highlights | France 0-2 Spain | FIFA World Cup 2026™ Semi-Finals

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World Cup: France vs Spain

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World Cup: France vs Spain

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Spain move on to the final on 19 July, where their opponent is not yet known — it will be the winner of England versus Argentina. Whoever emerges, Spain will arrive as the side that dismantled a fancied France without much fuss.

France, for their part, go home to reflect on an evening where flair met a wall. The chances were there in glimpses; the finishing and the final ball were not.