Read for 2 minutes15 Jul 2026 02:29 AM IST
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro scored as Spain beat France in the first semi-final to book their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. They will now play either England or Argentina depending on the result of the second semi-final in Atlanta on Thursday night.
Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal drew a foul in a header as Spain led 1-0 at half-time against France in the World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
France defender Lucas Digne was trying to gather the ball after an awkward bounce when Yamal, a day after his 19th birthday, ran in behind to challenge in the penalty area. Yamal was kicked as Digne tried to clear the ball.
Oyarzabal’s fifth goal of this year’s World Cup was the first time a team had conceded in their seven matches at the tournament.
It was only the third goal scored by FIFA’s top-ranked team, France. Spain has only allowed one.
In the second half, Porro played a one-two with Dani Olmo as the Tottenham defender pounced on a reverse pass and calmly slotted past France goalkeeper Mike Mignon.
Spain were playing their first semi-final since winning their only World Cup in 2010. France, meanwhile, were looking to reach their third straight final, after winning in 2018 and losing to Argentina in a penalty shootout four years ago.
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In the first half, Spain were also awarded a free kick from outside the area in the eighth minute after Adrien Rabiot was yellow carded for a foul on Dani Olmo. Alex Bayana’s kick went straight to the wall of the French players.
Kylian Mbappe was in France’s starting line-up after the striker came off in the 77th minute of the team’s quarter-final win over Morocco.
Mbappe scored the eighth goal against Morocco and moved into the semi-finals with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Messi, 39, has scored 21 World Cup goals in his career, one more than 27-year-old Mbappe.