Spain reach the 2026 World Cup final after beating France

Oyarzabal from the spot and Porro seal a 2-0 win over France, putting La Roja in their first World Cup final since the 2010 title. Next up: the winner of England-Argentina.

Spain are through to the 2026 World Cup final. La Roja saw off France 2-0 in a semifinal they controlled from the first whistle at Arlington's AT&T Stadium in Texas, and will play for the trophy sixteen years after lifting their first and only World Cup, in South Africa in 2010. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, from the penalty spot, and Pedro Porro settled it against a France side that never got going and must now settle for the third-place play-off.

Oyarzabal and Porro book Spain's place in the final

The tie was decided early. In the 22nd minute, Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal inside the box and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Oyarzabal, ice-cool as ever, sent Mike Maignan the wrong way to make it 1-0. The Real Sociedad forward is fast becoming Spain's man for the big occasion: it was his goal that won the Euro 2024 final against England, too.

The second arrived in the 57th minute, when Pedro Porro finished off a flowing team move to seal the 2-0. France, who had lost William Saliba to injury in the 29th minute, faded badly, short of ideas, with a tightly marshalled Kylian Mbappe barely troubling the Spanish goal.

• Result: Spain 2-0 France (2026 World Cup semifinal)
• Goals: Oyarzabal (22', penalty) and Porro (57')
• Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
• France lost Saliba to injury in the 29th minute
• Spain reach a World Cup final for the first time since 2010

The day Lamine Yamal dreamed of a final

Lamine Yamal had turned 19 the day before, and he had asked for just one thing: to play in a World Cup final. His teammates duly delivered. The Barcelona forward was the most dangerous player on the pitch, won the penalty for the opener and had the French defence chasing shadows all night. His rise is dizzying: a European champion at 17, and now a World Cup finalist at 19.

Spain's midfield ran the game and starved France of the ball for long stretches. This looked like a mature side, one that knows how to dig in when it has to and one that spreads its goals right across the team. They do not rely on a single man, and that is exactly what makes them so dangerous heading into the final.

From European champions to contenders for the double

Spain arrive at the 2026 World Cup final as reigning European champions. At Euro 2024 they won all seven matches they played and beat England 2-1 in the Berlin final, with a decisive goal from Oyarzabal himself. Win on Sunday and La Roja would hold the European and world titles at the same time, a double achieved by very few national teams in history.

• Spain topped their group after a shaky start
• They knocked out Portugal in the last 16 thanks to a Merino goal
• They edged past Belgium in the quarterfinals
• And they have now dismantled France in the semifinals

Who will Spain face in the final?

The opponent will emerge from the clash between England and Argentina, played this week in Atlanta. Two heavyweight candidates: Argentina, the reigning world champions with Messi, and an England side with Jude Bellingham in inspired form. Whoever comes through, the final promises to be a blockbuster.

A final that had eluded Spain

Despite dominating European football for the last decade and a half, Spain had reached only one World Cup final before this: the 2010 showpiece they won against the Netherlands through Iniesta's goal. At the two previous World Cups, in 2018 and 2022, La Roja went out in the last 16 on penalties, and the feeling was that the biggest tournament of all was the one step they could not quite take. This win over France breaks that spell and puts Spain back among the two best teams on the planet.

Beyond the result, it is the manner of it that excites. This side blends the experience of players like Oyarzabal with the fearlessness of a young generation led by Lamine Yamal and Pedri. It is a project with a sky-high ceiling that, win or lose the final, has already made clear it will be a force for many years to come.

Enjoy the final with a prediction league with friends

Few things make a World Cup final more exciting than playing along with your friends. On quiniPrats you can set up a prediction league with friends in a minute, invite the group and forecast Spain's result in the final and every remaining match. No pressure and free to play: it is simply one more way to enjoy the football with the people who matter to you.