Spain knock out France to become first 2026 World Cup finalists
Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé failed to get on the scoresheet in this match (Photo: FIFA.com)
Luca Digne was the villain of the first half, with his costly foul inside the box handing Spain the opening goal.
How the match unfolded
Both teams started cautiously, with neither France nor Spain creating any clear-cut chances in the opening stages. But just before the scheduled cooling break, Luca Digne made a costly mistake.
The France defender misjudged the ball and caught Lamine Yamal on the thigh inside his own penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty, beating Mike Maignan.
After falling behind, France pushed forward in search of an equalizer but struggled to create meaningful chances against Unai Simón. Spain also looked dangerous on the counter and doubled their lead in the 58th minute, when Pedro Porro fired home after a layoff from Dani Olmo.
The second goal opened up the game, but despite a more lively finish, the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Spain booked their place in the final, while France will now play for the bronze medal.
Spain's opponent in the final
La Roja will learn the identity of their opponent on Thursday, when England and Argentina face off in Atlanta for the second ticket to the final in New York.
