ARLINGTON, Texas — Spain advanced to its first FIFA World Cup final in 15 years on Tuesday, defeating France 2-0 behind goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro to book a place in Sunday's showpiece at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
According to Antigua News Room, Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after teenage sensation Lamine Yamal drew a foul from French defender Lucas Digne. Porro doubled Spain's advantage in the 58th minute with a sharp give-and-go involving Dani Olmo. A day after celebrating his 19th birthday, Yamal was then denied a goal of his own by a narrow offside call shortly after Porro's strike.
The victory marked the third consecutive summer in which Spain eliminated France in a tournament semifinal. Yamal scored in a 2-1 win during the 2024 European Championship semifinals just days before his 17th birthday, and Spain's La Roja also prevailed 5-4 in Nations League play the following year.
Oyarzabal's penalty — his fifth goal of this World Cup — came after Yamal challenged veteran defender Digne inside the penalty area. Digne, playing in his 63rd international appearance just six days before his 33rd birthday, made poor contact with the ball before his boot caught the young Spaniard. The spot kick was Oyarzabal's 30th goal in 60 games for the Spanish national team. It also marked the first time either side had fallen behind across their respective seven matches in this tournament.
France, FIFA's top-ranked team, had been chasing a place in a third consecutive World Cup final — a feat only two nations have previously achieved. Instead, Kylian Mbappé and his teammates will contest the third-place match against the loser of Wednesday's semifinal in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday.
Spain will face either defending champion Argentina or England in Sunday's final. Those two sides meet on Wednesday in Atlanta to determine who will line up against La Roja at MetLife Stadium.
