Spain booked a place in the World Cup final with a convincing 2-0 semifinal win over France in Arlington, Texas.
A 21st-minute penalty put Spain ahead, and Pedro Porro added a second goal in the 58th minute to secure the victory. Spain controlled the game and largely neutralized France’s feared attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
France arrived in the tournament as one of the favorites after winning the 2018 World Cup and finishing runner-up to Argentina in 2022, but they could not find a way through Spain’s organized defense. Mbappé had entered the match leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals and three assists, narrowly ahead of Argentina’s Lionel Messi (eight goals, two assists).
Spain’s run to the final has been remarkable: they have conceded just one goal in this World Cup and enter the showdown riding a 37-game unbeaten run over two years (28 wins, 9 draws, 0 losses). The Spanish side are also the reigning European champions and winners of the 2010 World Cup.
Spain will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Argentina and England in Sunday’s final. France will play the losing team from that semifinal in the third-place match on Saturday.