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Spain beat France 2-0 to reach 2026 FIFA World Cup final

Spain defeated France 2-0 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 14, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a first-half penalty won by Lamine Yamal; Spain advance to face Argentina or England in the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium

Sports· completed How Life Changes ·21 takes · ·rbtfl upd Jul 16, 2026
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developments

  1. Spain beat France 2-0 to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final; Oyarzabal's first-half penalty opened the scoring; Spain will face Argentina or England at New York/New Jersey Stadium. ↗

The split

The same story, as told by newsrooms in different countries. Their words, attributed and linked.

United States

NBC Sports

“Oyazarbal slashes home Yamal-won penalty as Spain take World Cup semifinal advantage.”

US rights-holder broadcaster; first verified live score update, Spain taking advantage via Oyarzabal penaltyread the original ↗

Middle East / North Africa

beIN Sports

“France and Spain renew one of international football's fiercest modern rivalries on Tuesday at AT&T Stadium.”

MENA sports broadcaster; previewed the match as a renewal of one of international football's fiercest modern rivalriesread the original ↗

United States

NPR

“The expanded World Cup allowed FIFA to introduce a new seeding system that placed the world's top players on a collision course.”

US public broadcaster; contextualised both semifinals as a showcase of the expanded 2026 World Cup's seeding system, featuring Mbappe and Yamal as the tournament's marquee attractionsread the original ↗

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Summary

Spain beat France 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 14, booking their place in the final. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty won by Lamine Yamal in the 22nd minute. Spain, built around 18-year-old Yamal, advance to face the winner of Argentina vs England (July 15) at New York/New Jersey Stadium. France, led by Kylian Mbappe, were shut out, ending their run in the tournament. CNN described Spain's victory as comprehensive.

Why it matters

Spain's win sets up a final against either Argentina or England. If England win July 15, the final pits the tournament's two most impressive sides against each other in a trans-Atlantic showcase. Spain's dominant performance suggests they enter the final as favourites.

What to watch

  • Argentina vs England semifinal (July 15) to determine Spain's final opponent.
  • Whether Mbappe's France tournament performance triggers a tactical or personnel review before the next cycle.
  • Spain's preparation for the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

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