Spain defeats France 2

Spain defeats France 2-0 to advance to World Cup final

Mikel Oyarzabal scored on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute, followed by Pedro Porro’s goal in the 58th. Spain will play in its first World Cup final since 2010.

Entering the semifinals, France vs. Spain was described as a meeting of two unstoppable forces. France’s high-powered offense against Spain’s all-world defense. Which would give?

On Tuesday, Spain suffocated the French attack, winning 2-0, and now advances to the World Cup final, where it will play either Argentina or England. Spain has won the World Cup only once, back in 2010.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal created Spain’s first great chance, drawing a foul that led to a penalty kick midway through the first half. Mikel Oyarzabal calmly buried his shot to give Spain a 1-0 lead.

In the 58th minute, Pedro Porro scored another goal for Spain on a give-and-go play that exposed a French defensive lapse.

France had previously outscored its opponents 16-2 in this World Cup, led by Golden Boot contenders Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. But Spain constricted passing lanes, slowed France’s offense and limited its chances all game. Spain has allowed only one goal in seven matches this tournament.

Spain's Pedro Porro: 'I couldn't even dream of this'

Pedro Porro scored the second-half goal that built a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 lead for Spain. After Spain had finished the win and advanced to the World Cup final, Porro said on the FOX broadcast, via an interpreter, "It's a dream come true. I couldn't even dream of this. I'm so happy because of the team's attitude from beginning to end. ... We knew they were a very tough team that were doing things really well. This is [about] our team. It's not about me."

Spain quiets France's stars Mbappé and Dembélé

Entering today's game, France's Kylian Mbappé (8) and Ousmane Dembélé (5) had combined to score 13 goals at this World Cup. Neither had much room to work today. Every pass seemed difficult. Every run seemed contested.

Mbappé ended up taking 34 touches and 3 shots, none of which were on goal, while Dembélé recorded 46 touches and two shots on goal. Mbappé, in particular, looked visibly frustrated as the game went on.

Spain has allowed only one goal during the World Cup

After starting group play with a shocking, scoreless draw against Cape Verde, Spain has been a dominant defensive side during the World Cup.

Spain has conceded only one goal across seven matches in the tournament, including both group play and the knockout stage. The only team to score against Spain was Belgium in the quarterfinals. Otherwise, every other squad has been held scoreless, including France in today’s semifinal.

A defensive masterclass from Spain, which will advance to the World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010.

Spain's defender Pedro Porro celebrates after his team wins. Mauro Pimentel / AFP via Getty Images

France entered this match with the most feared offensive attack among the remaining teams, but was held to only 0.26 expected goals. Spain’s defense was fantastic, preventing the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé from putting serious pressure on the net.

The loss is France’s first of the World Cup, and prevents the country from making its third straight World Cup final.

Another save for Spain’s Unai Simón

Ousmane Dembélé took a swinging shot that went around Marc Cucurella, but it went right into the chest of Simón, who handled the shot with ease.

The French had outscored their opponents 16-2 over the first six games of this tournament. They've managed just one shot on goal in 90-plus minutes today.

France still has two goals to make up.

Mbappé misses free kick chance

France was just awarded a free kick, just inches outside the box, inches from a penalty kick being awarded. Kylian Mbappé stepped up and curled a shot well over the crossbar. He made a face at the missed opportunity.

Kylian Mbappé gets yellow card, frustration showing

As the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón handled the ball, taking his time to put it back in play, Mbappé pressured him and made contact and Simón fell to the ground. The referee showed Mbappé a yellow card, as Mbappé was perhaps showing his frustration.

France's Kylian Mbappe is shown a yellow card by referee Ivan Barton during the match against Spain. Jerome Miron / Imagn Images

Pedro Porro, Álex Baena come off for Spain

They are replaced by Marcos Llorente and Nico Williams. Spain is out of subs after also bringing on Pedri and Mikel Merino earlier this half.

Spain’s Unai Simón makes his best play yet

Simón ran far out of the box to try to stop a France run. He couldn’t get to the ball in time to clear it, creating a chance for Désiré Doué to attack an empty net. But Simón tracked backward in time to deflect Doué’s shot, preventing a potential goal for France.

Lamine Yamal fouls Kylian Mbappé

Spain's teenage superstar just committed a hard foul on France's Golden Boot contender, and France pleaded with the referee for a yellow card, but one wasn't shown. France was awarded a free kick, but it didn't create a chance. A French player committed a foul as the ball looped into the box.

Kylian Mbappe of France falls to the ground next to Lamine Yamal of Spain. Lars Baron / Getty Images

Mikel Oyarzabal comes off for Spain

Oyarzabal scored the match’s first goal, and now he’s been replaced by Ferran Torres.

France brings on two more bodies, is now out of subs

In the 72nd minute, Rayan Cherki and Theo Hernández came on in place of Michael Olise and Lucas Digne. Olise leads this World Cup in assists with 5, but hasn't had much space to operate or had much of an impact today.

France is now out of substitutions, as it tries to claw back into this one.

Kylian Mbappé appears to be getting frustrated

He just took a shot from about 22 yards out, and it was deflected it by Spain's Marc Cucurella, and went wide of the net. That's a great metaphor for France today: Spain is not giving France's offense any chance to breathe.

France has taken five shots today, none of which on goal, and has produced 0.16 expected goals, according to ESPN.

Kylian Mbappé of France argues during the match. Omar Vega / Getty Images

We’re at the second half hydration break

France has scored 11 of its 16 goals in the second half this World Cup. It will need at least two more to push this match into extra time, as France trails 2-0 with precious few minutes to go.

Spain’s Unai Simón makes his first save of the game

Simón has had some nice moments already, but he just made his first save of the match in the 64th minute. Simón pushed aside a tight-angle shot from Kylian Mbappé from the left side of the box.

Doué might be to blame for that Spanish goal

Désiré Doué, the French forward who had just come on as a sub, might be to blame for that last Spain goal. Doué seemed to be marking Spain's Pedro Porro, as Spain pressured the French box. Porro passed the ball to a teammate, and then made a cut toward the goal, in a classic give-and-go. But Doué didn't go with Porro, and no French player picked him up, as he received the ball back.

After Porro had scored, the French players looked frustrated as if someone had blown an assignment.

Pedro Porro of Spain celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's second goal. David Ramos / Getty Images

Lamine Yamal nearly gave Spain a 3-0 lead in the 61st minute, but he was ruled offside before his run into the box and left-footed shot into the net.

Disaster for France! Spain now leads 2-0 after a goal from Pedro Porro.

Porro played the ball inside, then received a great pass from Dani Olmo as he ran into the box, and Porro finished the play with a shot to the right of an outstretched Mike Maignan.

France brings on Désiré Doué to provide more firepower

Doué, the talented forward, came on as a reserve in the round of 16 against Paraguay and drew the foul that led to a penalty kick, which led to France's only goal in a 1-0 game. Doué only has recorded 1 goal and 1 assist on the tournament. But he could be a spark plug off the bench for France, coming on in the 57th minute of this match replacing Bradley Barcola.

Another nifty play by Spain’s Unai Simón

Simón smartly anticipated a touch from France’s Bradley Barcola in the box, and he was able to dive onto a loose ball before Barcola was able to either shoot or pass. Yet another example of Spain’s great defending so far today.

At halftime, France subs out Adrien Rabiot

Rabiot had picked up a yellow card in the first half. Manu Koné has come on to replace him.

Referee Ivan Barton shows a yellow card to France's midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Franck Fife / AFP via Getty Images

France remains on the hunt for an equalizer as it looks to make a third straight trip to the World Cup final.

We've had an eventful game so far, and many of those events have gone against France. Midway through the half, Spain's Lamine Yamal drew a foul in the box, and Mikel Oyarzabal cooly converted a penalty kick to give Spain a 1-0 lead. France had not trailed this World Cup until that point. Meanwhile, it also lost defender William Saliba to injury.

Through the first 45 minutes, France's high-powered offense hasn't been able to solve the Spanish defense. Will it find an answer in the second half?

Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal scores the opening goal from the penalty spot past France's goalkeeper, Mike Maignan. Ashley Landis / AP

Another great defensive performance by Spain so far

At the end of the first half, Spain leads in possession 56% to 44% and has limited France’s offense to only 0.04 expected goals. Spain also leads in duels won and accurate passes. All of which have contributed to Spain stifling the normally aggressive France offense.

That’s plenty of time for France to find an equalizer before halftime, or for Spain to extend its lead.

Kylian Mbappé pressing the issue for France

Mbappé was called offside twice in the span of a few minutes, trying to make runs upfield. He seems to be trying to get a good jump on this Spanish defense. In the 42nd minute, Mbappé made a third run into open space that was not called for offside. But Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón came out to defend Mbappé before he could handle the ball cleanly.

Pau Cubarsi of Spain and Kylian Mbappé of France. Tom Weller / dpa / picture alliance via Getty Images

Nice play from Spain’s Unai Simón

Simón ran several yards outside of the box to make a sliding play on the ball, keeping France’s Kylian Mbappé from having an unimpeded breakaway toward the goal.

Spain has remained on the attack after scoring its first goal. It nearly just scored on a beautiful play, which started with a back-heel pass from Dani Olmo to Lamine Yamal, who then tried to cross the ball into the front of the net, but it was deflected out for a corner.

Spain is not trying to rest on its 1-0 lead.

France's Bradley Barcola takes a shot. Well over the net.

In the 36th minute, Barcola dribbled the ball around the periphery of the box and ripped a shot from about 27 yards out. The shot went well above the net, but it counted as progress for the French attack.

Yellow card for Spain’s Marc Cucurella

Cucurella is carded for a rough shove on France’s Michael Olise. And now one of Spain’s defenders may have to tone down the aggression.

France's William Saliba goes down with apparent injury

Saliba, the French defender, just went down to the ground with a noncontact injury. A teammate had passed him the ball, and after he ran to collect it, with no Spanish player around him, he just stopped and sat down. He stayed on the ground for a while before walking off the field under his own power. Maxence Lacroix is coming on to replace him.

William Saliba of France sits after suffering an injury today. Tom Welle / dpa via Getty Images

France still trying to solve the Spanish defense

Through the first 25-plus minutes of action, France hasn't produced any real cohesive chances on offense, and Spain's defense is playing a big part in that. The passing lanes are tighter. What might've been an easy pass a week ago may result in a turnover now. France is only converting 84% of its passes so far, according to ESPN, and has only taken one shot. And it wasn't on goal.

Spain leads 1-0 at the first-half hydration break. It should be fun to watch a team as explosive as France play from behind for the first time this World Cup.

Spain has struck first in this semifinal.

After a foul on Lamine Yamal led to a penalty, Mikel Oyarzabal lined up for the kick and buried it into the right side of the goal.

Spain leads 1-0 in the 22nd minute.

Lamine Yamal was kicked by Lucas Digne in the box and now Spain will have a chance to take the lead!

France builds momentum on another counterattack

Around the 15-minute mark, France's Ousmane Dembélé sent a long pass upfield toward a streaking Kylian Mbappé, who seemed to have some space in front, with a Spanish defender running with him. But as Mbappé collected the ball and considered his next move, he was surrounded by more Spanish defenders, and the attack quickly dissipated.

That play showed both teams' strengths: France can create offense out of thin air, and Spain can extinguish it.

In the 10th minute, Spain had a free kick from just outside the right side of the box. Álex Baena took the kick, but his shot went right into France’s wall and bounced away harmlessly.

Yellow card for France's Adrien Rabiot

We'll see if that'll force him to play a bit more tentatively going forward.

France gets first corner of the game, and it goes nowhere

In the 6th minute, France finally built some momentum on the counterattack and it led to a corner kick, France's first of the game. But it went nowhere. Both teams appear to be feeling each other out early on here.

France vs. Spain has kicked off!

The first of two semifinals is underway! The winner of this match will play the winner of Argentina and England in the World Cup final.

France v. Spain feels like a World Cup final

Joe Prince-Wright, Andy Edwards and Nick Mendola preview a massive World Cup semifinal between France and Spain, breaking down each nation's advantage in a "flip of the coin" match

Here’s the starting 11 for France

Kylian Mbappé enters the semifinals tied with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.

Here’s the starting 11 for Spain

Lamine Yamal will lead Spain’s attack one day after his 19th birthday.

French coach calls Spain the World Cup favorite

French coach Didier Deschamps has seen his national team lose to Spain twice in tournament semifinals since 2024 and has called the Spanish the team to beat in this World Cup. He repeated that assessment when asked yesterday during a news conference in Dallas.

"Spain confirmed that they are the favorite," Deschamps said via a translator. "I don’t want to add extra pressure to Luis and their team. He knows very well people are expecting greatly of Spain. But Spain, can they attack, as well? Yes. They also defend very well. … We know that this might be a spectacular game with two teams with plenty of quality."

The semifinalists have arrived in Texas.

An epic rematch of the 2024 European Championship

Last December, as soon as the World Cup draw revealed a potential collision between Spain and France in the semifinal, this became one of the most-anticipated matches of the tournament. And now it's here, a showdown between two global powers that memorably faced off only two years ago in the semifinal of the European Championship.

Spain won, 2-1, in a match where Spanish star Lamine Yamal became that tournament's youngest-ever scorer at just 16. Yamal turned 19 yesterday. (Yamal also scored twice in Spain's 2-1 win over France in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League semifinal.)

"He’s a skilled player with a lot of qualities, but we draw the focus on our team, the French team, our players and our assets and our qualities," French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery said yesterday via a translator. "There are four attackers and we will do our best to stop Spain."

Kylian Mbappé of France and Lamine Yamal of Spain during the semifinal of the Euros in 2024. Visionhaus / Getty Images

Unlike that 2024 Euros meeting, however, when French star Kylian Mbappé played with a broken nose, he won't be playing hurt in this World Cup semifinal. Mbappé has played some of the best soccer of his career during this tournament with his eight goals matching Lionel Messi atop the race for the Golden Boot honor given to the top scorer.

How have these teams fared on penalty kicks?

Just in case this match reaches penalty kicks, here's how each nation has fared historically in World Cup games.

France is 2-3, including losses in the 2006 and 2022 tournament final.

Spain is 1-4, having lost its last three matches that went to penalties in 2002, 2018 and 2022.

World Cup scoring race still up for grabs

Who will earn the Golden Boot? The World Cup's leading scorer remains uncertain entering the tournament's final matches because several of the top scorers are still playing.

Kylian Mbappé of France and Lionel Messi of Argentina both lead with eight goals.

Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane of England both have six.

There is a chance the all-time scoring leader distinction could change, as well. Messi has 21 goals all time, while Mbappé has 20.

Yamal: France should be scared of Spain

After Spain's quarterfinal win over Belgium, superstar Spanish teenage striker Lamine Yamal told reporters that "if France should fear anyone, it’s us."

“We have knocked them out (during 2024 European Championships and 2024-25 Nations League), we have beat them two times," Yamal said. "Honestly, I think we’re the two best teams at the World Cup, so we’ll see what happens, but we do not have any fear.”

French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery shrugged off the 19-year-old's words when asked about them at a news conference yesterday.

Kylian Mbappé of France is challenged by Lamine Yamal of Spain during the UEFA Nations League semifinal match in 2025. Maciej Rogowski / Getty Images file

"Lamine has extraordinary qualities. He can do anything, to shoot the ball, to dribble, to pass the ball. But we also have our qualities," Zaire-Emery said yesterday via a translator. "It’s a collective sport, and before talking about Lamine Yamal, we should talk about all of Spain. They have world-class players on all positions, and the same goes for our squad."

Asked later if he thought Yamal's declaration was excessive, Zaire-Emery again tried to move past making a declaration hismelf.

"We're the French national team. We're not scared of anybody," he said.

In knockout matches, Mbappé is king

Of the record-tying 20 goals that Kylian Mbappé has scored in World Cup history, 12 have come in knockout-stage games, itself a record. The only players to come close to that knockout-stage goal total are Brazil's Ronaldo and Leonidas, with eight.

"In these types of setting and games he’s there, he knows how to play," French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery said via a translator yesterday. "And it’s true that he does not want to lose against Spain. He will do everything he can."

France's Kylian Mbappé celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Morocco on Thursday. Odd Andersen / AFP via Getty Images

Drew Dinsick explains how to bet on what he calls the "de facto" final between Spain and France, two powerhouses with star attacking talent and strong defenses.

France holding World Cup winning streak against European foes

The French have won their last seven games in the tournament against teams from Europe, a run that is part of broader success that has seen Les Bleus win 15 of their last 17 international matches.

Meanwhile, Spain has won six of its last seven matches played in the knockout round against European opponents. The only loss came during the 2018 World Cup's round of 16, a loss to Russia on penalty kicks.

All four semifinalists are previous World Cup winners

France (1998, 2018), Spain (2010), Argentina (1978, 1986, 2022) and England (1966) have all previously won the World Cup, making it one of the few times in tournament history that each semifinalist is a winner.

The only other times it has happened were in 1970 (Brazil-Uruguay, Italy-West Germany) and 1990 (Argentina-Italy, West Germany-England).