Spain defeated France in their FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, July 14, advancing to the tournament final on July 19. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the first half as La Roja pushed toward the title match. Spain now await the winner of Wednesday’s Argentina-England semifinal in Atlanta.
Who did Spain beat to reach the World Cup final?
Spain beat France at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match pitted Luis de la Fuente’s European champions against Didier Deschamps’ France, led by Kylian Mbappé, in a rematch of their Euro 2024 semifinal, which Spain also won 2-1. Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s top scorer in the tournament with several goals across the campaign, was again decisive from the penalty spot.
What time and channel was the France vs Spain match?
The semifinal kicked off at 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. UK time) on Tuesday, July 14, and aired on Fox and Telemundo in the United States and ITV in the UK. Fans could also stream the match via fubo and Peacock
Background on Spain’s Run
Spain entered the semifinal unbeaten and had conceded just one goal across the tournament heading into the France clash, underlining the strength of Luis de la Fuente’s defense. La Roja edged Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinal thanks to a late Mikel Merino winner after a goalkeeping error, extending their momentum into the France tie. This marked Spain’s first World Cup semifinal appearance since their 2010 title-winning run.
What Comes Next for Spain?
Spain will face either Argentina, chasing back-to-back titles with Lionel Messi, or England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, in the July 15 semifinal in Atlanta. Messi described the Argentina-England clash as “special,” while tensions between the two nations have added extra stakes to the buildup. The World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Related coverage: readers can follow ongoing World Cup 2026 schedule updates and bracket predictions on our tournament hub page for full knockout-stage details.
