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Spain Beat France 2-0 to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

📷 Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal between Spain and France.
Spain Beat France 2-0 to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

These FIFA World Cup 2026 stats tell a striking story after Spain dismantled France 2-0 in the semifinal, riding goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. The result sends Spain into their second-ever World Cup final and their first since lifting the trophy in 2010. For football fans across Canada and around the globe, this match delivered drama, history, and a wave of broken records , and the FIFA World Cup 2026 stats from this game will be talked about for years. Here’s a full breakdown of what happened and why it matters heading into Sunday’s final.

Table of Contents

Match Overview

Spain met France in the opening semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the result was never really in doubt once La Roja settled into their rhythm. Playing with composure and control from the first whistle, Spain outclassed a French side that had entered the match as defending finalists.

By full time, the scoreline read 0-2, sending Spain through to face either England or Argentina in the championship match on July 19 in New York/New Jersey.

Final Score and Key Moments

Spain’s victory was built on discipline at the back and clinical finishing up front.

  • Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring, continuing his standout tournament form.
  • Pedro Porro added the second, becoming one of just a handful of defenders in recent decades to score multiple knockout-stage goals in a single World Cup.
  • Goalkeeper Unai Simón anchored the defense, keeping France off the scoresheet entirely.
  • The turning point came early, as Spain’s press disrupted France’s rhythm and limited Kylian Mbappé to almost no service all match.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Stats: Match Statistics

According to the FIFA World Cup 2026 stats released after the game, Spain dominated nearly every meaningful category. While full possession and passing figures were not all disclosed, several standout numbers defined the contest:

  • Shots on target: France managed zero shots on target, a first for Mbappé in nine World Cup appearances.
  • Expected goals (xG): France’s 0.30 xG was their lowest in a World Cup match in 60 years.
  • Clean sheets: Spain became the first nation to record six clean-sheet wins in a single World Cup edition.
  • Penalties converted: Spain now hold the record for most penalties scored by any country in World Cup history, with 17.

Key Numbers Behind Spain’s Dominance

These figures highlight just how comprehensively Spain controlled the semifinal from start to finish, leaving France with almost no attacking answers.

StatSpainFrance
Goals20
Clean Sheets6
xG0.30
Shots on Target0

Player Performances

Spain’s depth of talent was on full display, but a few names stood out above the rest.

  • Mikel Oyarzabal scored his fifth goal of the tournament, joining David Villa and Emilio Butragueño as the only Spanish men to reach that mark in a single World Cup. It was also his 30th international goal.
  • Pedro Porro delivered the clinching strike from defense.
  • Unai Simón now owns the record for most clean sheets by a goalkeeper in one World Cup, with six.
  • Dani Olmo matched Cesc Fàbregas for the most assists by a Spanish player at a major tournament since 1980.
  • Meanwhile, Mbappé finished the tournament with eight goals, still narrowly leading the Golden Boot race over Lionel Messi on assists.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Stats: Records and Milestones

The match produced a flood of historic marks. Spain extended their unbeaten run to 37 matches across all competitions, matching Italy’s record for the longest unbeaten streak by a European nation. They also stretched their World Cup knockout-stage unbeaten streak to ten games.

Teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí both started the semifinal, making Spain one of only two nations in tournament history to field two teenage starters in a World Cup semifinal.

Historical Context

Spain’s win extended their dominance over France in recent knockout meetings, winning four of the last five, with the sole loss coming in the 2021 Nations League final. Since Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid, he has lost every knockout match against Yamal, whether at club or international level.

For France, the loss ended a six-game World Cup winning streak and denied them a shot at becoming only the third team since 1990 to reach back-to-back finals.

What This Result Means

Spain now await the winner of England versus Argentina, with the final set for July 19. A win would make them just the third reigning European champion to also claim the World Cup, following Spain’s own 2008-2010 run and West Germany’s 1972-1974 stretch.

For France, elimination brings a disappointing end to their title defense and raises questions about their attacking setup heading into future tournaments.

Coach and Player Reactions

Post-match reaction focused heavily on Spain’s control and discipline, with pundits and former players praising the squad’s ability to shut down Mbappé entirely. Full press conference details were pending official release at the time of publication.

Key Match Statistics at a Glance

  • Final Score: France 0-2 Spain
  • Goals: Oyarzabal, Porro
  • Clean Sheets: Spain, 6th of the tournament
  • Shots on Target (France): 0
  • Man of the Match: Pedro Porro (unofficial consensus)

Spain vs France: Match Summary

In short, Spain vs France was a one-sided semifinal decided by early control and defensive discipline. Oyarzabal and Porro provided the goals, Unai Simón provided the clean sheet, and France never found a way past a Spanish side playing with total confidence. The result books Spain’s place in the July 19 final and closes the book on France’s title defense.

Key Highlights

  • Spain reach their second World Cup final.
  • Unai Simón sets a new clean-sheet record.
  • Mbappé held without a shot on target for the first time in nine World Cup games.
  • Spain’s 37-game unbeaten streak ties a European record.

Conclusion

These FIFA World Cup 2026 stats confirm Spain’s status as the tournament’s most complete team, with a commanding 2-0 win over France sending them into Sunday’s final. These FIFA World Cup 2026 stats highlight why Spain enter the final as tournament favourites, backed by record-breaking defense and clutch finishing. Spain now turn their attention to England or Argentina as they chase a second world title. Fans should watch for the final showdown on July 19 for the last chapter of this historic tournament.

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Official Source: FIFA Official Website

Rukaiya Kadiwala

I am Rukaiya Kadiwala, an experienced News Content Writer with 6+ years of expertise in hospitality, travel, hotel, restaurant, business, and lifestyle news. Skilled in writing, research, fact-checking, headline creation, and digital publishing, I create accurate, engaging, and high-quality content that informs and attracts readers worldwide.

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