Spain Advances to World Cup Final After Shutting Down France

Spain booked its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final Tuesday with an impressive 2-0 victory over France, producing one of its most complete performances of the tournament. The semifinal at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas showcased Spain’s disciplined defense and clinical finishing as La Roja eliminated one of the pre-tournament favorites to move within one victory of its first World Cup title since 2010. Spain struck first midway through the opening half when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after teenage sensation Lamine Yamal was brought down in the penalty area. Although Yamal later had a goal disallowed for offside, the 18-year-old continued to create problems for France throughout the match with his pace and creativity. France struggled to generate quality scoring opportunities despite featuring one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacks. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise were largely neutralized by Spain’s organized back line, which has emerged as the tournament’s defining defensive unit. Spain doubled its advantage in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished a well-worked combination with Dani Olmo, effectively putting the semifinal out of reach. The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten streak to 37 matches while sending the reigning European champions into Sunday’s World Cup final. France will now play in Saturday’s third-place match after seeing its bid for a third consecutive World Cup final come to an end.

Today’s World Cup Matchup

The second semifinal features another historic rivalry as England takes on defending champion Argentina in Atlanta. The winner will advance to face Spain in Sunday’s championship match, while the loser meets France in the third-place playoff. Lionel Messi enters the match leading the Golden Boot race, while England will again lean on Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham after their strong tournament performances.

• Matchup: England vs. Argentina
• Round: FIFA World Cup Semifinal
• Location: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• TV: FOX (United States)
• Betting Odds: England +175, Argentina +195, Draw +180 (90 minutes); England -126 to advance, Argentina +108 to advance
• Key Players to Watch: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka (England); Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)

Betting Outlook

Spain’s victory significantly reshaped the World Cup futures betting market. After eliminating France, La Roja has become one of the favorites to lift the trophy, while England and Argentina will battle for the opportunity to challenge Spain in Sunday’s final. Bettors will also be watching the Golden Boot race, where Messi remains the leader entering the second semifinal, while Kane continues to chase him with another opportunity to add to his tournament total. The England-Argentina matchup is expected to be one of the tournament’s closest contests, with sportsbooks like BetMGM and bet365 giving England a slight edge based on its recent form and balanced squad. However, Argentina’s championship experience and Messi’s continued brilliance ensure the defending champions remain a dangerous underdog capable of returning to another World Cup final.