Spain end France's 3rd-straight WC final bid
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- Spain beat France 2-0 in Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, behind a first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and an early second-half strike by Pedro Porro.
- The result was Spain's third consecutive win over France, following 2024 European Championship and 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal victories — a streak that cements La Roja's grip on the rivalry.
- France were hit hard before the break when center back William Saliba was forced off in the 30th minute with a back injury, replaced by Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix.
- Didier Deschamps made halftime changes — Manu Koné on for Adrien Rabiot and Désiré Doué for Bradley Barcola — but Spain's press and Unai Simón's saves kept Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé largely silent.
- France were chasing history: only Argentina (1990 vs. Italy) and Croatia (2018 vs. England) had ever advanced in a World Cup semifinal after trailing at halftime.
- Spain drew level with Italy for the longest unbeaten run in international football at 37 games and booked just their second-ever World Cup final appearance, set for July 19 in East Rutherford.
Why it matters: Spain's win extends a rare three-match winning streak over a France side featuring Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé, and now ties Italy's record 37-game unbeaten mark — putting La Roja two wins from a first World Cup title. For France, a third straight final appearance slips away, continuing a pattern of semifinal heartbreak under Deschamps.
