{"id":373091,"date":"2026-07-14T21:33:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T21:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/373091\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T21:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T21:33:09","slug":"spain-advances-to-world-cup-final-with-2-0-win-over-france-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/373091\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain advances to World Cup final with 2-0 win over France"},"content":{"rendered":"

By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer<\/p>\n

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by teenager Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro added another goal and Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal was denied a goal on a close offside call that came soon after Porro\u2019s give-and-go with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute had put Spain up 2-0. But it was Yamal\u2019s smart play against a veteran defender that put Spain in the lead.<\/p>\n

Spain, which will play in the final for only the second time, will face either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gave it our all in order just to go through to the final,\u201d Porro said. \u201cWe knew that we\u2019re a very tough team, we\u2019re doing things really well. This is our team, it\u2019s not about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal scores the opening goal from the penalty spot past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)\n<\/p>\n

\"France\u2019s<\/p>\n

France\u2019s William Saliba (17) is checked on by France\u2019s Aurelien Tchouameni (8) and Spain\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal (21) after being injured during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Eric Gay)\n<\/p>\n

\"France\u2019s<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts after Spain\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal (21) scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Abbie Parr)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Lamine Yamal (19) reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Pedro Porro (12) celebrates after scoring his side\u2019s second goal against France during the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Pedro Porro (12) scores their second goal as France goalkeeper Mike Maignan (16) defends during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Alex Baena, France\u2019s Ousmane Dembele and Spain\u2019s Marc Cucurella during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)\n<\/p>\n

\"Jamaican<\/p>\n

Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt and US sprinter Noah Lyles, center right, greet fans before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Rodri (16) and Lamine Yamal (19) chat as they walk among sprinklers during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Eric Gay)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal celebrates scoring from the penalty spot the opening goal during a World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)\n<\/p>\n

\"France\u2019s<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Jules Kounde, left, vies for the ball with Spain\u2019s Aymeric Laporte during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Dani Olmo (10) and France\u2019s Adrien Rabiot (14) fight for the ball during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)\n<\/p>\n

\"Victoria<\/p>\n

Victoria Triay, partner of France\u2019s Lucas Hernandez in the stands prior to a World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spanish<\/p>\n

Spanish and French flags are seen on the pitch during the presentation of the teams before the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Sam Hodde)\n<\/p>\n

\"Spain\u2019s<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Pedro Porro reacts after scoring his side\u2019s second goal during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 15<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Mikel Oyarzabal scores the opening goal from the penalty spot past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 and France, FIFA\u2019s top-ranked team, were trying to become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. They instead will play in the third-place game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, the day before the final at MetLife Stadium across the river from New York City. Argentina and England face each other on Wednesday in Atlanta in the second semifinal match.<\/p>\n

This win on soccer\u2019s biggest stage marked the third summer in a row that Spain beat France in a tournament semifinal match. Yamal scored in a\u00a02-1 win in the 2024 European Championship<\/a>\u00a0semifinals just days before his 17th birthday, and La Roja won 5-4 in Nations League play last year.<\/p>\n

After a quarterfinal win over Belgium last Friday, Yamal said he believed France should fear Spain. Those words certainly proved true.<\/p>\n

Oyarzabal\u2019s penalty kick in the 22nd minute came after Yamal drew a foul when kicked by defender Lucas Digne.<\/p>\n

After a poor first touch with his head, Digne was trying to clear the ball when Yamal raced in from behind to challenge in the penalty area. The ball hit off the elbow of the leaping teen before he was kicked by Digne, playing in his 63rd game for France only six days before his 33rd birthday.<\/p>\n

Oyarzabal\u2019s fifth goal of this year\u2019s World Cup marked the first time either team had trailed in their seven games in this tournament. It was his 30th goal in 60 international games for Spain.<\/p>\n

Porro broke free for the second goal and received a pass back from Olmo, who got the touch just before getting knocked off his feet by defender Dayot Upamecano.<\/p>\n

France had allowed only two goals in its first six games in this tournament. Spain goalkeeper Unai Sim\u00f3n has six shutouts while allowing only one goal in seven games so far.<\/p>\n

Spain had two other real scoring chances in the first half.<\/p>\n

There was the a free kick from just beyond the box after Adrien Rabiot drew a yellow card for a foul on Olmo in the eighth minute. Alex Baena\u2019s kick went directly into the wall of French players.<\/p>\n

After France goalkeeper Mike Maignan\u2019s attempted clearing pass in the 38th minute instead went straight to Baena, there were several quick nifty passes before Fabian Ruiz\u2019s close-range shot was denied.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s run at this year\u2019s World Cup has extended its unbeaten streak in regular time to 37 matches (28 wins and nine draws) since March 2024. That broke the country\u2019s previous record of 35 in a row from 2007-09.<\/p>\n

The loss broke France\u2019s record-matching streak of six consecutive World Cup wins, which also was accomplished in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.<\/p>\n

More: 2026 men\u2019s World Cup bracket<\/a><\/p>\n

See more of AP\u2019s World Cup coverage here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":373092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[150,152,151,131879,131995,131996],"class_list":["post-373091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arlington","tag-arlington","tag-arlington-headlines","tag-arlington-news","tag-spain-vs-france","tag-spain-france-highlights","tag-who-scored-for-spain-vs-france"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/373092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}