European champions Spain beat France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday, producing a controlled display to book a place in Sunday's final. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the box, misjudging a high ball and kicking through the Barcelona winger.
Spain took command through their positional play after an even start, limiting France's chances and controlling the tempo. Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute after a one-two with Dani Olmo sent him through to finish past Mike Maignan. France were dealt a major injury blow in the first half as William Saliba, the Arsenal centre-back, went down on the half-hour, signalling to the bench that he could not continue because of a back problem, and he was replaced by Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix, who has been linked with Chelsea in this summer transfer window.
Spain, World Cup winners in 2010, will seek their second title against England or Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
France vs Spain latest updates
- NO GOAL! Yamal strike chalked off
- GOAL! Porro doubles lead
- INJURY BLOW! Saliba forced off
- GOAL! Oyarzabal opens scoring from spot
World Cup final date and time
22:13 , Oli Gent
Spain will face England or Argentina in the World Cup 2026 final.
La Roja became the first team to book their place in this weekend’s tournament showpiece with a 2-0 win over France in Arlington, Texas.
They will face the winners of Wednesday night’s blockbuster second semi-final showdown between fierce rivals England and Argentina, the losers of which will take on France in the third-place play-off in Miami on Saturday.
Spain beat France to book final place
22:12 , Oli Gent
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro fired ruthless Spain into the World Cup final as France’s quest for glory fell apart in Dallas.
Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute penalty – his fifth goal of the tournament – coupled with Tottenham full-back Porro’s assured second-half finish secured a 2-0 win for the European champions and denied Didier Deschamps a third successive final as his 14-year-old reign drew to a heartbreaking close.
FT: France 0-2 Spain
21:59 , Oli Gent
There we have it. Spain are into the World Cup final, for the second time ever!
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE action.
France 0-2 Spain
21:57 , Oli Gent
90+3 mins: Dembele cuts in off the right onto his left, looks to bend one, and it’s comfortable for Simon.
France 0-2 Spain
21:53 , Oli Gent
90 mins: Seven added minutes.
France 0-2 Spain
21:51 , Oli Gent
88 mins: Free kick, France. Yamal gives away a free kick, and Mbappe will hit this one... over the bar.
France 0-2 Spain
21:48 , Oli Gent
86 mins: Yellow card for Mbappe for a frustrated shove on Simon.
France 0-2 Spain
21:46 , Oli Gent
84 mins: Here comes Nico Williams, who replaces Baena, and Marcos Llorente is on for Pedro Porro.
France 0-2 Spain
21:44 , Oli Gent
82 mins: Close! The ball is clipped over the top and Simon comes for it. He goes for the clearing header, makes a mess of it, and it comes out to Doue, with Simon in no-man’s land... but Doue can’t make the most of it, and Simon claims.
France 0-2 Spain
21:43 , Oli Gent
81 mins: Less than 10 minutes to play here. France are no closer to finding a goal that would set them on their way to saving themselves.
France 0-2 Spain
21:39 , Oli Gent
78 mins: Two more changes for Spain as Pedri and Merino come on, with Olmo and Fabian Ruiz coming off.
France 0-2 Spain
21:36 , Oli Gent
75 mins: Oyarzabal is replaced by Ferran Torres.
France 0-2 Spain
21:34 , Oli Gent
73 mins: Two more changes for France. Olise and Digne off, Cherki and Hernandez on.
France 0-2 Spain
21:31 , Oli Gent
70 mins: 20 minutes to go. Baena takes the body check from Kounde, as the frustration begins to come out.
France 0-2 Spain
21:28 , Oli Gent
66 mins: Tchouameni nods over, and France are starting to knock on the door. Can they find that elusive goal?
France 0-2 Spain
21:27 , Oli Gent
65 mins: Mbappe bursts towards the byline and looks to flash in a cross-shot, but Porro is there to stick it behind. Corner, France.
France 0-2 Spain
21:23 , Oli Gent
61 mins: No goal! Yamal thinks he’s made it three, racing clear into the box, chopping back inside, and curling it inside the far post, but the flag is up!
Goal! France 0-2 Spain
21:20 , Oli Gent
59 mins: It’s there, and Spain are two up! Pedro Porro slots home, finding space in the penalty area, and he fires beyond Maignan!
France 0-1 Spain
21:19 , Oli Gent
58 mins: Barcola is replaced, Doue is on for France.
France 0-1 Spain
21:18 , Oli Gent
57 mins: What a touch from Oyarzabal to get away from Tchouameni. He feeds it wide for Cucurella, who works it inside to Fabian, but his cross into the box is wayward.
France 0-1 Spain
21:15 , Oli Gent
53 mins: Yamal shows Digne a clean pair of heels, but Barcola gets back to help out his left-back.
France 0-1 Spain
21:14 , Oli Gent
50 mins: Oyarzabal has a go from the edge of the area, but it’s over the top.
Kick off!
21:07 , Oli Gent
46 mins: Back underway.
HT: France 0-1 Spain
20:52 , Oli Gent
There’s the interval.
Plenty to ponder from that first period.
What will the second half have in store?
France 0-1 Spain
20:48 , Oli Gent
45+3 mins: Kounde fizzes in a cross from the right as France look to hit back before the break. Rabiot clips it in towards Kounde from the left, but the flag is up.
France 0-1 Spain
20:46 , Oli Gent
45+1 min: Six added minutes.
France 0-1 Spain
20:46 , Oli Gent
45 mins: Rabiot goes in heavy on Fabian, and he’s lucky not to see a second yellow for that.
France 0-1 Spain
20:43 , Oli Gent
42 mins: Just! Simon does really well to rush off his line to stop Mbappe, who looks to race in behind and latch onto a threaded through ball from Rabiot.
France 0-1 Spain
20:38 , Oli Gent
38 mins: Close! What a move from Spain as Rodri, Yamal and Olmo combine. Yamal takes it on in the box, but Upamecano gets across to stick it behind!
France 0-1 Spain
20:35 , Oli Gent
35 mins: No penalty! Upamecano makes the mess of the high ball as Baena chases it down. He bursts in behind and Maignan challenges him... but the flag is up for offside.
France 0-1 Spain
20:31 , Oli Gent
32 mins: Cucurella is booked for an overzealous challenge on Olise.
France 0-1 Spain
20:30 , Oli Gent
32 mins: Lacroix replaces Saliba.
France 0-1 Spain
20:29 , Oli Gent
30 mins: This isn’t good for Saliba, as he goes down pointing to his back. Maxence Lacroix is warming up vigorously for France.
France 0-1 Spain
20:28 , Oli Gent
28 mins: Cubarsi leaves one on Mbappe, but the Frenchman doesn’t get the free kick. It’s a throw, according to the referee.
France 0-1 Spain
20:24 , Oli Gent
24 mins: Time for the first hydration break. How do France regroup?
Goal! France 0-1 Spain
20:22 , Oli Gent
22 mins: It’s there, and Spain lead. Oyarzabal beats Maginan, and it’s 1-0.
France 0-0 Spain
20:21 , Oli Gent
20 mins: Penalty! Digne has a swing at the high ball, Yamal sneaks up behind him, and the full-back makes contact with the winger, who goes down under the challenge! The referee points to the spot.
France 0-0 Spain
20:17 , Oli Gent
18 mins: A dangerous break from France is worked up to Mbappe. He’s isolated against a number of Spanish bodies, keeps hold of it as Simon backpedals from no-man’s land, and eventually, despite Les Bleus flooding men forward, the move breaks down as Porro charges down Olise’s effort from the angle.
France 0-0 Spain
20:15 , Oli Gent
17 mins: Free kick, Spain. Rodri goes down under challenge from Olise, and he wins the free kick from the Bayern man, who does catch him on the ankle.
France 0-0 Spain
20:14 , Oli Gent
14 mins: Poorly given away by Laporte as he clips the ball into centre-field. Kounde is onto it, but he’s robbed by Olmo and Spain reclaim possession.
France 0-0 Spain
20:11 , Oli Gent
11 mins: Baena hits it into the wall, and Yamal goes to cross the rebound with the outside of his boot. It’s well cleared, but that’s the first bit of magic from the 19-year-old.
France 0-0 Spain
20:09 , Oli Gent
9 mins: A chance for Spain as Rabiot is penalised for a late challenge on Olmo. The European champs have a free kick right on the edge of the box. Rabiot has been booked.
France 0-0 Spain
20:06 , Oli Gent
7 mins: Barcola whips it in, but Laporte nods it clear.
France 0-0 Spain
20:06 , Oli Gent
6 mins: Corner, Spain. A first foray forward for the French as Barcola skips away from Porro, but Cubarsi steps across to concede the set piece.
France 0-0 Spain
20:04 , Oli Gent
3 mins: Early possession for the Spanish as Yamal is found for the first time.
He looks infield, but is forced back to Rodri.
Kick off!
20:00 , Oli Gent
1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
19:55 , Oli Gent
The players are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minutes to kick off
19:50 , Oli Gent
Who will win this one?
Mbappe injury latest
19:45 , Oli Gent
Didier Deschamps insists Kylian Mbappe is fully fit for France’s World Cup semi-final clash with Spain, despite reports in France suggesting he is still struggling with an ankle injury.
The Real Madrid striker has either scored or assisted eleven of France’s 16 goals at the tournament thus far, and concerns were sparked when he came off with an issue late in the last-16 defeat of Morocco.
He hobbled off with 13 minutes of normal time left to play after taking a knock to his ankle in a heavy tackle.
Mbappe chases down Messi
19:37 , Oli Gent
Kylian Mbappe needs one more goal to equal Lionel Messi’s record of 21 World Cup goals.
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Half an hour to kick off
19:30 , Oli Gent
Here are the two teams once more for those that missed them:
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
France's Italian job
19:23 , Oli Gent
Here, France can become only the second ever European country to win seven World Cup games in a row after Italy between 1934 and 1938.
Spain gunning for world record
19:15 , Oli Gent
Spain can equal Italy’s world record of 37 games unbeaten if they avoid defeat to France in normal or extra time.
La Roja’s 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals not only propelled them into just their second ever World Cup semi-final, but stretched their unbeaten run to 36 matches (excluding penalty shootouts) in all competitions.
Scary numbers
19:07 , Oli Gent
Kylian Mbappé is averaging a goal involvement every 47 minutes at the 2026 World Cup:
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 14, 2026
⚽️⚽️ vs. Senegal
⚽️⚽️ vs. Iraq
🅰️🅰️ vs. Norway
⚽️⚽️ vs. Sweden
⚽️ vs. Paraguay
⚽️🅰️ vs. Morocco
How many will he get tonight? 👀 pic.twitter.com/9jmrXPkECO
Big stat
19:00 , Oli Gent
Man for the big occasion?
Spain are eight wins from eight in major tournaments when Lamine Yamal has started.
Spain lineup
18:52 , Oli Gent
Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Subs: Raya, Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Gavi, Pedri, Pino, Zubimendi, Torres, Williams, Munoz, Iglesias
France lineup
18:45 , Oli Gent
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
Subs: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Konate, Hernandez, Hernandez, Lacroix, Kone, Kante, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Doue, Mateta
Spain predicted XI
18:37 , Oli Gent
Predicted Spain XI vs France: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
France predicted XI
18:30 , Oli Gent
Predicted France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Rabiot, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
Who is tonight's referee?
18:22 , Oli Gent
Ivan Barton has been appointed by FIFA to take charge of proceedings between France and Spain.
The 35-year-old has taken charge of three games at the 2026 World Cup, most recently officiating Switzerland’s last-16 penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia.
Mbappe injury latest
18:15 , Oli Gent
Didier Deschamps insists Kylian Mbappe is fully fit for France’s World Cup semi-final clash with Spain, despite reports in France suggesting he is still struggling with an ankle injury.
The Real Madrid striker has either scored or assisted eleven of France’s 16 goals at the tournament thus far, and concerns were sparked when he came off with an issue late in the last-16 defeat of Morocco.
Alonso makes France vs Spain prediction
18:07 , Oli Gent
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso believes Spain are capable of winning the World Cup as they gear up to face France in the semi-final.
La Roja have been generally unconvincing in reaching this stage of the competition, requiring late winners from Mikel Merino to get past Belgium and Portugal in each of the last two rounds.
Match odds
18:00 , Oli Gent
Odds via betting sites (subject to change).
Head to head
17:52 , Oli Gent
France wins: 13
Spain wins: 18
Draws: 7
Standard Sport prediction
17:45 , Oli Gent
France have progressed through this tournament as smoothly as Deschamps could have wished for at his final tournament as manager of his national side.
He should be optimistic he can bow out of his 14-year reign with a second World Cup trophy to stick on the mantlepiece.
While Spain have pedigree, they have only had narrow wins and have failed to convince in quite the same way as their semi-final opponents.
A tight match is expected, but Les Bleus’ attacking quality is as unparalleled as it is dynamic and inventive.
France to win, 3-1.
Spain team news
17:37 , Oli Gent
Attackers Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino are available for Spain once again after suffering mid-tournament injuries, while new Liverpool winger Victor Munoz should soon be available after an injury of his own.
Lamine Yamal has not yet matched the heights of his performances during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph but remains undroppable.
Spain squad: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Unai Simon, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Alex Baena, Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
France team news
17:30 , Oli Gent
Kylian Mbappe was substituted during the second half of France’s quarter-final win over Morocco, but the joint-top scorer at the tournament is expected to recover from a minor ankle sprain. He described himself as “completely fine” at full-time.
Manu Kone was also withdrawn with a knee issue, but only as a precautionary measure, so should be available to start. Fellow midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is still recovering from a thigh injury which ruled him out of the Morocco tie, but he has since returned to full team training.
William Saliba and fellow centre-back Dayot Upamecano were both absent from the session on Saturday, but neither are thought to be carrying serious issues. Saliba was reportedly resting, while Upamecano undertook a solo session indoors.
Desire Doue should continue in attack alongside Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, but Deschamps has so far been rotating between the 21-year-old and his PSG team-mate Bradley Barcola on the left wing.
France squad: Brice Samba, Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Malo Gusto, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni, N'Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta
How to watch
17:23 , Oli Gent
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via the ITVX app or the channel’s website.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with the ITVX app and website.
Hello and welcome
17:15 , Oli Gent
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of France vs Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.
It is the two European giants facing off for a place in the biggest game of all here in Arlington, Texas.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 8pm BST.
