Spain secured a place in the 2026 World Cup final by defeating tournament favorites France 2-0 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 14, 2026. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed the victory, ending Kylian Mbappé’s dreams of lifting the trophy and likely the Golden Boot.

The match began with a significant moment when Oyarzabal converted a penalty, awarded after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal early in the first half. France struggled to recover, failing to register a shot on target before halftime, compounded by the injury of William Saliba. Despite Aurélien Tchouameni returning from injury, the French midfield could not match the dominance of Rodri and Fabián Ruiz.

The second goal came from Pedro Porro, who expertly combined with Dani Olmo to finish past Mike Maignan. Mbappé had a few attempts, including a shot that went inches wide and a free-kick that sailed over the bar, but he could not change the outcome. His only notable action late in the game was receiving a yellow card for an elbow on Unai Simón.

Defensively, Marc Cucurella stood out, effectively neutralizing Michael Olise and making crucial interventions, including one in injury time that denied Mbappé a clear chance.

Spain’s tactical discipline and individual brilliance have been evident throughout the tournament. They will face either England or Argentina in the final on Sunday in New Jersey, while France will compete in the third-place playoff on Saturday in Miami.