Result summary
France 0–2 Spain | World Cup 2026 Semi-Final | AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Spain are through to the World Cup final. A composed, clinical performance saw La Roja dismantle the FIFA world number one side with goals either side of half-time, and they never looked like relinquishing control after the opener.
22' — Mikel Oyarzabal (Penalty): Spain broke the deadlock from the spot, with Oyarzabal coolly converting to give his side an early foothold they would never surrender. The concession came at a damaging time for France, who had already been rattled by Rabiot's ninth-minute yellow card.
58' — Pedro Porro (Normal Goal): Any French hope of a second-half reset was extinguished when the Barcelona right-back drove forward to net Spain's second. Coming just a minute after Doué's introduction, it silenced Deschamps' attempts at a tactical shift before they had even taken shape.
83' — VAR (Corner Cancelled, Théo Hernandez): France's most agonising moment. With the score at 0–2 and the clock running out, what appeared to be a France goal connected to Théo Hernandez was overturned by VAR review. The disallowance removed any lingering hope of a late comeback.
Spain win 2–0. France are eliminated.
What went right, what went wrong
France — What went wrong:
The match unravelled structurally before it had even found its rhythm. Rabiot's yellow card at nine minutes immediately curtailed France's ability to press high and bite in midfield — the sort of constraint that cascades through a team's entire game-plan. Then came the body blow: William Saliba, France's most authoritative centre-back, was withdrawn at the 30-minute mark with what appeared to be a physical issue, replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Losing your defensive cornerstone before the half-hour, already trailing, is as difficult a hand as a side can be dealt.
The penalty concession preceding all of this was the original wound. France never found a way back through it. With only three shots on target across 90 minutes, Mbappé — operating as the nominal focal point in a 4-2-3-1 — never terrorised Spain's backline the way his market value suggests he should. The 6.2 rating beside his name tells the story clearly enough.
The VAR disallowance at 83' was perhaps France's cruellest moment: a potential consolation goal wiped out at a point when Spain had visibly sat deeper and invited a little more pressure.
France — What went right:
Tchouaméni was France's best performer in the starting XI, operating with composure in a midfield that was otherwise disrupted by personnel changes. The substitute impact — particularly Doué, who earned a 7.0 rating in 33 minutes — showed there was quality on the bench, but the damage was done long before they arrived. France generated seven corners, which suggests some attacking persistence down the flanks, even if the final product rarely tested Unai Simón.
Spain — What went right:
Everything that needed to. The game-plan was disciplined, the defensive unit was excellent, and when the chances arrived, Spain took them. Porro was exceptional from right-back — attacking with timing, defending with authority, and ultimately getting his name on the scoresheet. Rodri, operating at the base of midfield, was imperious in his reading of the game and gave France no clean lines through the centre. The back four collectively held firm against a front line that cost €570m on paper.
Spain managed to win this game with just two shots on target. That is not luck — it is ruthlessness.
Spain — What went wrong:
Very little. Cucurella picked up a yellow card at 31', which was the sole blemish. Their substitutes (Ferran Torres, Pedri, Merino, Nico Williams, Marcos Llorente) largely consolidated rather than dazzled — Pedri's 6.3 in 12 minutes was underwhelming — but the game was already won. Luis de la Fuente had the luxury of rotating without consequence.
Key performers
Spain's standouts:
Pedro Porro — 8.2 (match high): The outstanding individual on the pitch. Scorer of the decisive second goal, constantly threatening down the right flank, and composed when France threatened on the counter. A complete right-back performance on the biggest stage.
Rodri — 7.7: The fulcrum of everything Spain did. Controlled the tempo, cut off passing lanes, and gave Fabián Ruiz the freedom to push forward. A near-faultless midfield anchor in a match Spain absolutely had to win.
Pau Cubarsí — 7.5: At 17 years old, operating in a World Cup semi-final as though he has been doing it for a decade. Calm, positionally intelligent, and not once visibly troubled by France's attacking names.
Aymeric Laporte — 7.3: A composed partner for Cubarsí. Laporte's experience showed — he organised the line, dealt with long balls, and helped neutralise any service that found Mbappé.
Mikel Oyarzabal — 7.0: Converted the penalty with nerves of steel and was industrious until his withdrawal at 74'. A dependable performance when it mattered most.
Dani Olmo — 6.9, Fabián Ruiz — 7.0: Both made solid contributions in the No. 10 and left-of-midfield roles before being replaced by fresher legs late on.
Note: Martín Zubimendi, listed among Spain's key players, did not feature — an interesting selection call by De la Fuente, though the midfield trio functioned well enough that his absence was not felt.
France's standouts:
Désiré Doué — 7.0 (France's top-rated player): The most compelling argument for why France might have started him. In 33 minutes as a substitute, Doué was France's most direct and inventive presence going forward. Too late, too little of the game left.
Rayan Cherki — 6.9: Another substitute who made an impression in limited time (18 minutes). France's best creativity came from the bench, which raises questions about the starting XI's setup.
Aurélien Tchouaméni — 6.9: The best-rated French starter. In a midfield that was disrupted by Rabiot's early booking and subsequent withdrawal, Tchouaméni was the one figure who maintained any semblance of structure.
Ousmane Dembélé — 6.6: Some moments of industry and directness, but ultimately unable to consistently beat Cucurella or create clear chances for teammates.
Underperformers:
Mike Maignan — 5.9: France's lowest-rated player. Could do little about either goal, but his shot-stopping and distribution did not inspire confidence on the few occasions he was tested.
Lucas Digne — 5.7: The lowest rating of any player to feature in this match. Struggled defensively against Spain's right-side combination of Yamal and Baena, and offered little going forward before his 72nd-minute withdrawal.
Kylian Mbappé — 6.2: The hardest number to look at. €200m, FIFA world number one side, World Cup semi-final — and a 6.2. Mbappé was not invisible, but he was containable, which against this calibre of opposition is a form of failure. His yellow card at 86' in a dead match was a needless footnote.
Tournament impact
Spain march into the World Cup final. This was not a fluke or a smash-and-grab — over the course of this tournament, De la Fuente's side have built with method, defended with solidity, and shown they can produce the decisive moments that semi-finals demand. Porro's goal encapsulated their spirit: a right-back arriving with conviction in the 58th minute of a World Cup semi-final is a team that believes.
For France, the elimination stings deeply. FIFA's world number one side were outperformed — not just outscored — by their Iberian neighbours. The early loss of Saliba was mitigated somewhat by Lacroix, but the fragility of France's structure when disrupted was exposed. Mbappé, Olise, Dembélé — the firepower that was supposed to be decisive never fired. Deschamps and his staff will have much to reflect on.
The broader group-stage picture is now irrelevant — this is knockout football — but Spain's form line across this tournament makes them the team to beat in the final. Their Elo rating of 2161 was the superior figure coming in, and they have validated it.
Claude's prediction vs reality
My call: Spain to win (away), 1–2 scoreline. Actual result: France 0–2 Spain.
The winner: Spain, correctly identified. Spain's goal tally: Exactly two — got that right. France's goal tally: I predicted France to score once; they didn't. The VAR disallowance almost vindicated that read, but the result is what it is.
The overall shape — a controlled Spanish victory in the 2-0 to 2-1 range — landed where I expected. I correctly identified that Spain's structural discipline would be the defining force, and that Rodri's midfield platform would deny France clean attacking passages. What I misjudged was France's capacity to pull one back: I gave them a consolation that never materialised, partly because their attacking substitutes arrived too late, and partly because VAR stripped away what might have been.
Grade: B. Right winner, right goals-for tally for Spain, wrong on France scoring. A solid forecast that reflects how the game was likely to unfold — undone only by overestimating France's finishing resilience at the death.