France 0-2 Spain: Porro and Oyarzabal send holders through to the final
By Ali Ammar · goals2026.org
Spain are through to the final of the 2026 World Cup after a composed, controlled semi-final victory over France at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Mikel Oyarzabal's first-half penalty and a smartly taken second-half finish from Pedro Porro settled a contest in which France, for all their attacking pedigree, could not find a way through. Full coverage and post-match reaction from this last-four tie can be found on the official match page.
Oyarzabal Strikes From the Spot
The game was shaped early. Adrien Rabiot picked up a yellow card inside the opening ten minutes, and France never quite settled into their rhythm thereafter. Spain made the breakthrough on 22 minutes when Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up confidently to convert a penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Spain a deserved lead. Marc Cucurella was booked shortly afterwards as the tempo of the match rose, and France responded with an early reshuffle, withdrawing William Saliba in the 30th minute. Rabiot, already on a booking, did not reappear for the second half, replaced at the interval as France's head coach looked to freshen things up before the break got away from them.
Porro Doubles the Lead
France introduced Bradley Barcola just after the hour in search of a spark, but within a minute Spain had extended their advantage. Pedro Porro arrived to finish clinically in the 58th minute, a goal that underlined his growing influence in this tournament and effectively settled the tie. France pushed men forward in response, bringing on Lucas Digne and Michael Olise together in the 72nd minute as they searched for a route back into the game. Spain, meanwhile, managed the closing stages with composure, rotating fresh legs through Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo and Fabián Ruiz between the 74th and 78th minutes to keep their shape intact.
There was a moment of late VAR intervention when a corner for France was cancelled following a review involving Theo Hernandez in the 83rd minute, denying France a set-piece opportunity as they chased the game. Spain used their final substitutions shortly after, sending on Baena and a fresh face for Porro to see out the closing stages. Kylian Mbappé, France's talisman, was shown a yellow card in the 86th minute as frustration crept in, but no way through could be found and Spain held on comfortably to the final whistle.
Reading the Numbers
The statistics tell a story of a tightly balanced match that Spain nonetheless controlled where it mattered. Possession was close — 49% for France to 51% for Spain — and the shot count was level at ten apiece. But Spain were sharper in front of goal, with two shots on target compared to France's three failing to convert into anything more than pressure, while Spain's goalkeeping department across the tournament, including David Raya, Unai Simón and Joan García, contributed three saves to help keep the door shut. France's superiority at corners, seven to Spain's solitary one, never translated into the breakthrough they craved.
Standout Performers
Pedro Porro was the outstanding performer on the night, his goal and all-round contribution earning him a rating of 7.99, the highest of any player involved. Dani Olmo's assist and composed display saw him rated 7.7, while at the back Pau Cubarsí Paredes (7.47) and Aymeric Laporte (7.43) barely put a foot wrong across the full ninety minutes. Rodri's midfield anchor role (7.14) gave Spain the platform to control tempo, and Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty conversion, allied to his all-round movement, earned him a 7.09 rating before he made way in the 74th minute. Substitutes Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino, Marcos Llorente and Pedri all made telling late contributions after coming on.
The Bigger Picture
The result does no harm to Kylian Mbappé's Golden Boot credentials — his eight goals this tournament keep him level at the top alongside Lionel Messi, ahead of Erling Haaland on seven and the England pairing of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham on six. Mikel Oyarzabal's goal here takes him to five for the tournament, while Pedro Porro's finish is his second. For the wider context on the golden boot race, tournament permutations and what comes next, readers can check the latest news, browse upcoming fixtures, and see how the bookmakers and analysts are framing the final in our predictions section. For France, elimination at the semi-final stage will sting, but for Spain, a clinical, disciplined display sends them into the biggest game of all with real momentum.