By Samuel Akpan
Spain defeated France 2-0 in Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup semifinal at Dallas Stadium, advancing to the final and extending their unbeaten run to a record-equalling 37 matches in men’s internationals.
Mikel Oyarzabal broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal was brought down inside the box by Lucas Digne.
The forward calmly beat Mike Maignan to claim his fifth goal of the tournament.
Pedro Porro sealed the victory in the 58th minute, finishing clinically from close range after a slick build-up involving Dani Olmo that left the French defence exposed.
Spain dictated the tempo with their trademark possession game from the first whistle.
The midfield trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo controlled the central areas, while Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte organised a solid backline that rarely looked troubled.
France created little despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Their problems mounted when defender William Saliba was forced off injured before half-time, leaving gaps that Spain exploited with disciplined counter-attacks.
The win stretched Spain’s current unbeaten sequence to 37 games, made up of 28 wins and nine draws.
This equals Italy’s mark from 2018 to 2021 and moves one clear of Argentina’s 36-game run between 2019 and 2022.
Spain also became the first European nation to win eight straight knockout matches at major tournaments.
The sequence features victories over Georgia, Germany and France at Euro 2024, plus Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France again in this World Cup.
The achievement surpasses Italy’s seven consecutive knockout triumphs from the 1934 and 1938 World Cups as well as Spain’s own streak during their successful 2008-2012 period.
Under coach Luis de la Fuente, the Spaniards have now eliminated Austria, Portugal and Belgium in successive knockout ties to reach the final, blending attacking quality with defensive organisation.
They will meet the winner of the other semifinal between England and Argentina on Sunday, with the chance to win a second World Cup title following their 2010 triumph in South Africa.
The squad has combined experienced figures such as Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Oyarzabal with exciting young talents including Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, creating a balanced and formidable unit.
France, managed by Didier Deschamps, arrived in strong form after earlier knockout wins over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, but could not find a way through Spain’s compact and well-drilled defence.
The final whistle sparked joyous celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters, who saw their team deliver another mature performance against one of the tournament’s leading sides.
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