Spain are through to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after a composed 2-0 semi-final win over France in Arlington, Texas, on July 14. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a 22nd-minute penalty and Pedro Porro added the second, giving La Roja a route to the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, where they will meet Argentina or England.
The headline from the semi-final was not only the score. Spain have now kept a tournament-record six clean sheets in seven matches. Their one concession came in the quarter-final against Belgium, ending Unai Simón's 650-minute World Cup scoreless streak, but France could not find a way through despite bringing Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise into the contest.
France had won all six of their previous matches and had allowed only two goals before the semi-final. Spain instead controlled the spaces and the rhythm. Lamine Yamal's pressure drew the foul for Oyarzabal's penalty, while Porro finished a move involving Dani Olmo in the 58th minute. Yamal, who had turned 19 the day before, later had a goal ruled out for offside.
Spain have outscored opponents 12-1 since opening the tournament with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde. The win also extended their unbeaten run in regulation time to 37 matches, with 28 victories and nine draws since March 2024. It surpasses Spain's previous national record of 35, set between 2007 and 2009.
For coach Luis de la Fuente, the final will be Spain's first since the 2010 triumph in South Africa. France now head to the third-place match in Miami Gardens on July 18. Spain's remaining question is simple but enormous: whether their final opponent will be defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, or England, seeking to return to the final after their 2022 defeat.
The final is scheduled for 15:00 local time on July 19. FIFA has also set its closing ceremony for 13:30 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, 90 minutes before kick-off. Spain arrive with a clear identity: the ball, the pressure and a defense that has made the tournament's most dangerous attacks look ordinary.