France 0 vs 2 Spain summary: goals, updates, score, and highlights | World Cup 2026 semifinals

Spain almost put the second goal of the board after a wonderful bit of build up from side to side.  A one-two with Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal ended in a Yamal cross from the end line and Fabian was there for the flick but his effort was blocked off at the front post. 

They were going wild in Madrid as Spain took the lead after the penalty on Digne. 

The top scorer for Spain stepped to the spot and buried his 5th goal of the tournament. He went right, and the keeper Maignan guessed right but the placement was perfect from the Spain No. 9. That put France in a position in which they were trailing for the first time all tournament, and that seemed to put Les Bleus under pressure which they couldn't escape. 

Spain are moving on to the finals of the World Cup after a dominant defensive performance over the best attacking side in the tournament. They blanked France and shut their potent front four, taking a 2-0 win into the final after goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. 

It was a tense start to the game with both teams throwing jabs without really landing anything. Right before the 20 minute mark, it was Lamine Yamal taking advantage of a loose touch by Lucas Digne in the back. He pounced on the mistake and drew a penalty to send Mikel Oyarzabal to the spot. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!!

SPAIN ARE HEADING TO THE FINAL OF THE WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2010!!! ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET FOR SPAIN!!

Dembele with another hopeful shot from the right side and that is blocked away by Unai!!!

Dembele on the right side of the area and her makes a move around Cucurella but his shot is taken easily by Unai. 

Every attack the France try to build up is being extinguished by the back line of Spain. Truly dominant performance from Spain in this semifinal. 

SEVEN MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME FROM DALLAS!!!

Cherki with a good bit of link up play in the middle and he finds Mbappe but Cucurella was there to poke the danger away. 

Mbappe sends that shot well over the bar from the corner of the area. Nothing has been working for Mbappe today. 

Doue tripped up by Yamal out the fringe of the area. Free kick coming from the corner of the area. 

Unai was playing with the ball in the back waiting for some pressure to come and Mbappe came in and clipped him with the forearm. Yellow card for Mbappe. 

Free kick for France on the left touchline, and Dembele's ball is cleared at the front post by Cubarsi. 

Baena and Porro out for Llorente and Nico Williams. 

Hernandez to the end line and he tries to chip it over Simon but the keeper was off his line in time and made the save to force a corner. 

Unai off his line again way out of the box and kept it from getting to Mbappe but he passed it to Doue to tried the shot from distance but Unai got back into his box and was able to make the save and space himself of the blushes. 

Hernandez on the end line and he puts it in first time to the middle of the area but Unai was off his line and grabbed it. 

Baena over the top from the left side and Ferran got a touch to it with his head but that went just left of the target. 

Olmo and Fabian out for Merino and Pedri. 

Ball sent into the mix from Cherki but Rodri gets a head to it and nods it away before getting fouled. 

Yamal escapes a yellow card after a challenge from the back on Mbappe. Free kick coming from the left side, and a chance to put the ball in the box for Cherki. 

Torres out for Ferran Torres. De la Fuente's subs have been working out like gold for Spain in these knockout round matches. 

WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FOR THE FINAL STRETCH OF THIS MATCH. 

Olise and Digne out for Cherki and Hernandez.

Pedro Porro's goal puts Spain in the drivers seat for the rest of the game. Something has to change for this France side. 

HYDRATION BREAK COMING FROM DALLAS!!

Spain stand strong on the corner again and the France is getting a bit frustrated as this game goes on. 

Mbappe from the top of the area and he takes it on with the second touch and that was blocked off by Cucurella. 

Corner kick to the front post for Tchouameni which is flicked on but over the bar. Another attack extinguished by Spain's back line. 

Mbappe trying to force his way into this game with a touch to the end line and took the shot on from a tight angle but that was stopped Unai for a corner. 

Porro with two goals in this World Cup. He had two goals in 47 matches with Tottenham this season. 

OFFSIDE!!!

Yamal gets in behind the defense off the pass from Cubarsi and tucks it home for the third on the right side but the flag goes up. 

Incredible from Spain who lead 2-0. They haven't had many chances but they have taken the ones that have been offered. 

Barcola out for Doue and France is going after this game for the final half hour!

France has top figure out a way to break down the Spain back line. They are holding strong against this top attacking side. 

Great defending from Spain to start this second half. Barcola on the right side of the box but took a heavy touch which was wrapped up by Unai Simon. 

Oyarzabal tried the lay off that didn't work but he got the ball back and turned on the ball, took the shot and sent it high of the target. 

Porro over the top for Yamal but his touch led him a bit too tight to the end line. The flag went up anyway for offside. 

Fabian and Upamecano have a coming together but the ref keeps the card in his pocket. 

France make a couple subs out of the break. Rabiot is out for Kone after picking up a yellow card. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS IN THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!

The players are coming back on the pitch and I have a feeling this second half is going to be a lot different than the first. 

Fabian had a chance after this wonderful one-two from Lamine and Olmo. 

Mikel Oyarzabal stepped to the spot and slotted the penalty home for the opening goal of the semifinal. They are up on France who haven't trailed all tournament long. Spain have only allowed one goal in this entire tournament. Let the games begin. 

There weren't many chance from either of the side in the first half but Spain took advantage of a mistake in the back from Digne. A loose touch invited Lamine Yamal to step in and draw a penalty. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HALFTIME BREAK FROM DALLAS!!!

IT'S 1-0 SPAIN AFTER THE FIRST 45 MINIUTES!!!

Spain's defense is holding up in these final minutes of the first half. They know giving up a goal right now would be a disaster. 

Kounde on the right side and he sends it in for Mbappe but that was a bit too far out in front of the Real Madrid man. 

SIX MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME!!!

Dembele runs into his teammate Fabian and went down outside the area but the ref corrected his decision after awarding a foul to France. 

Corner kick comes in from Olise and the ball gets popped up in the area and should have been easy for Unai but he and Oyarzabal made a meal of it. They got away with it but it's a bit sloppy from Spain. 

Simon off his line after Mbappe was played in by Rabiot. It was a goal if Unai hadn't left his area. 

A really tight line from Spain has led to a couple straight offsides from France. That's one way to keep this France attack at bay, but it's awfully dangerous. 

Sloppy in the back from Maignan and it fell to Baena who found Rodri in the middle. Rodri found Yamal who played a one-two with Olmo. Yamal got it off the back heel from Olmo and sent it into Fabian whose shot was tipped out for a corner. Great build up from Spain. 

Porro with an ambitious effort from outside the area and that shot never had a chance. 

First shot of the day for France and it comes from Barcola. He came in driving into the box from the left side and took a chance from a tough angle and sent it high and wide. France are being limited right now, but like the game against Morocco. 

OFFSIDE!!!

Baena was one vs. one with Maignan and got to the ball but tipped his shot wide but that flag had gone up anyway. 

Olmo tries it from long distance and skies that shot well high of the bar. That's about all either side have in terms of chances. 

Olmo down the left touch line and slides it up for Cucurella whose cross on the one touch was blocked away for a corner kic. 

Saliba out for Lacroix for the final hour of the game. 

Cucurella goes in not once and twice on Olise and he is shown a yellow card. Free kick coming from quite a long way away on the right touchline. 

Saliba out for Lacroix for the final hour of the game. 

Saliba goes down and it looks like he is going to have to get subbed off the pitch. Big blow for France already down a goal. 

This is the first time that France has found themselves losing in the tournament and they are trailing against a team that has only allowed one goal all tournament. 

Oyarzabal steps to the spot and tucks it home. This is going to change this game coming out of the hydration break.

Lamine Yamal goes down in the box off a clumsy challenge from Digne and Spain get the first chance of the game. 

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HYDRATION BREAK FROM DALLAS!!!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!!!

IT'S OYARZABAL TUCKING IT HOME FROM THE PENALTY SPOT!!! HE WENT RIGHT AND THE KEEPER GUESSED RIGHT BUT COULDN'T GET THERE!!!

Digne got a head to the cross from Cucu but headed it straight up, and Yamal stepped in the way and took the blow!

PENALTY!!!!!!

DIGNE TOOK A STAB AT LAMINE YAMAL OFF AN INNOCENT CROSS FROM CUCURELLA AND KICKED YAMAL IN THE THIGH!!!

So far the only highlight of this game has been the ref forgetting his free kick spray. Not much on either side of the pitch has happened. When will this game start to open up, if ever?

France on the counter from the free kick and Mbappe was one vs one with Cubarsi. The Barca defender did just enough to hold Mbappe up and allow Pedro Porro to recover and strip him of possession. 

Rodri chopped down in the middle of the field and a free kick coming into the ares from a pretty difficult position for Spain. 

Mbappe cuts into the middle and sends a ball into the mix but that was over the head of every one and we are still looking for our first goal scoring chance from both sides. It serves Spain better this sort of game without too many chances for either side. They can't turn this into a shootout. That's exactly what France want. 

Baena slams it into the wall and Yamal picks it up and drives towards the end line but his cross was over the head of everyone in the mix. 

The free kick spray ran out and Ivan Barto had to go to the touchline and get a replacement. Everyone is ready for the semi except the ref!

It's a game being played in the middle third of the pitch at the moment, but Spain is going to have a free kick right outside the box after Olmo gets stepped on by Rabiot. First real chance for either team. Yellow card for Rabiot!

Olise puts in the outswinger but that cross falls harmlessly out of play for a goal kick. 

Digne to the end line off the overlap behind Mbappe and his cross is blocked off for a corner kick. 

Yamal with his first touch and he carries the ball into the middle of the pitch. It was a calm touch but it was an early touch that gets him into the game. 

It's a very tentative start for both teams, which is to be expected in a semifinal of the World Cup. 

The best chance Spain is going to have is keeping the ball away from France's top four that will be on the hunt from the very start. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM DALLAS!!!

Spain is going with the same XI as they had in the quarterfinal against Belgium. 

Deschamps is going with Tchouament and Barcola in the XI instead of Doue and Kone.

World Cup

Who is Ivan Barton, the referee for France vs Spain in the 2026 World Cup semifinal matchup?

Today's ref

This has been a tournament that unfortunately has been marred by controversy. Refereeing, VAR, and some of the decision making after the whistle has certainly come in to question throughout the World Cup. Having said that, we will cross our fingers that the man in the middle plays as little role as possible in this massive matchup. Here is all the info on the ref in charge of the semifinal, Ivan Barton.

World Cup 2026

‘La Roja’ eclipse France in World Cup travel distance

France's shorter road to semis

Let’s preface this by saying we aren’t swayed one way or another here at AS English, even if we are a Spanish company. But let’s just state facts here. Spain has had to travel an awful lot more than Les Bleus who have been nestled up in the northeast for the entire tournament. There is a considerable difference in miles covered. Our Paul Reidy has more.

World Cup

What is Bastille Day? An extra special occasion for France against Spain in World Cup 2026 semifinal

Double dose of celebration in France

It's a special day in France, and not just because their national team are in the semifinal of the World Cup. Today is a celebratory day around the country, and if their team win, it will only add to the festivities. It’s Bastille Day in France, and that means there could be a double dose of celebration as their team looks to make it three straight finals in three straight World Cups.

The other semifinal

We have a battle of two European giants in this semifinal match up and the other semifinal is filled with two teams with plenty of history. History in the sense of their countries history in the sport, and history in terms of head to head battles. Argentina and England play tomorrow from Atlanta to decide the second finalist that will be heading to New York/New Jersey on Sunday. They will be watching the first semi today before setting their sight on tomorrow's game.

FIFA World Rankings

If you take a look at the rankings, there is a little bit of a disparity in who the favorites in the odds makers minds are and who the top teams in the world are. According to the FIFA World Rankings, France are the top team in the world after over taking Argentina throughout the course of this tournament. The South Americans have been bumped down to second while Spain is third and England is fourth. It’s what we signed up for isn’t it? The top four teams in the world locking horns in the semifinals as the last four teams standings.

Odds to win it all

And then there were four. These are the four that we expected, and let’s be honest they are the four that we wanted to be at this stage of the tournament. France and Spain came into the tournament as the two favorites but only one of these teams will be moving on to the final. According to Bet365, France are the favorites coming into the semis at +137 while Spain and England are second favorites, with both paying out +333. Argentina are at the bottom of the list paying +450.

Three peat finalists in World Cups past

We have already talked about how much of a force this France team is in world soccer, especially recently. They have a chance to do something today that only two teams in the history of the World Cup have done. If France beat Spain, they will be heading to their third straight World Cup final. The first team to do so was West Germany back in the 80s and early 90s. They were runners up in 1982 and 1986 before winning it in 1990 for their third World Cup. Brazil took the torch after that tournament, winning the 1994 World Cup in the US before losing to France in the 1998 World Cup. They would get back to the final in 2002 and win for a second time in three tried, when they beat Germany in Yokohama, Japan.

Lamine heats up semi with prematch presser

As if this match needed any more fuel added to the fire, Lamine Yamal might have just given the French a little added motivation after his final press conference before today's match. He asked why France should be the favorites if they haven’t beaten Spain since before the Euros. Those in the France dressing room certainly heard that and will be keeping that in the back of their minds.

STARTING XI France

Didier Deschamps has a luxury of riches to choose from, especially up top. This is who is is going with against Spain in this semifinal. It's Maignan in goal with Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba and Digne on the back line. In the middle it’s  Tchouament, Rabiot with Dembele, Olise, Barcola all free to flow around the attacking midfield as Mbappe looks to get in behind.

The birthday boy's big day

Happy Birthday Lamine Yamal. The Spanish sensation will be a teenager for one more year after turning 19 yesterday, July 13th. In three years with Barcelona he has scored 49 goals and given 45 assists in 151 matches. With the Spanish national team, he has played in 31 matches, scoring 7 goals and dished out 12 assists. At just 19 years of age, he has already won three La LIga titles, a Copa del Rey and the Euros back in 2024. Nothing would make him happier than a goal or two and a trip to the World Cup final as a gift to himself today from Dallas.

Last game: France

France played Morocco from Boston and the African side, which was looking for a second straight trip to a World Cup semifinal, held tight for a while, but eventually succumbed to the blistering French attack. Morocco was keeping things awfully compact in the back and France was struggling to find anything of real value in the attacking third. Finally, Kylian Mbappe drew a penalty in the 28th minute, but Morocco keeper Bono saved the spot kick to keep the match deadlocked at 0-0. Mbappe would have his say at the hour mark with a fantastic strike around a defender and past Bono for the first goal of the game. Six minutes later it was Ousmane Dembele double the France lead to seal the match and their place in the semis.

Last game: Spain

For a second straight game it was Spain leaving it late and winning in dramatic fashion to book their spot in the semifinals. A match against Belgium in which they conceded the first goal of the tournament, but they spirit of the Spaniards didn't allow what was a record setting stretch come to and end defeat them. Fabian put Spain up in the first half with a rebounded goal at the 30 minute mark. Charles De Ketelaere evened the score right before the break to send the two teams into the dressing room all square at 1-1. Spain had more possession and more chances in the second half but it took an 88th minute goal from Mikel Merino off another rebound to put Spain through to the semis.