Spain has added yet another exciting chapter to their incredible FIFA World Cup 2026 journey by achieving something no other team has done before. La Roja triumphed over France with a 2-0 victory in the second
semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Tuesday (July 14), earning a spot in the final and making history as the first team ever to record six clean sheets in a single World Cup tournament. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty in the 22nd minute, and Pedro Porro put the game beyond doubt with a goal in the 58th minute, showcasing Spain's blend of attacking efficiency and solid defensive prowess.
Spain are one step closer to glory 🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026
Spain's defensive stats throughout the tournament have been nothing short of remarkable. They've only let in one goal across seven matches and have rarely found themselves in a tight spot. Their campaign kicked off with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, but they quickly found their rhythm with convincing wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, allowing them to advance from the group stage with both momentum and control.
Spain in FIFA World Cup 2026
|
MATCH |
AGAINST |
RESULT |
SCORELINE |
SPAIN GOALKEEPER |
VENUE |
DATE |
|
Group H |
Cape Verde |
Draw |
0-0 |
Unai Simon |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
June 15 |
|
Group H |
Saudi Arabia |
Win |
4-0 |
Unai Simon |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
June 21 |
|
Group H |
Uruguay |
Win |
1-0 |
Unai Simon |
Estadio Akron, Zapopan |
June 26 |
|
Round of 32 |
Austria |
Win |
3-0 |
Unai Simon |
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
July 2 |
|
Round of 16 |
Portugal |
Win |
1-0 |
Unai Simon |
AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
July 6 |
|
Quarterfinal |
Belgium |
Win |
2-1 |
Unai Simon |
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
July 10 |
|
Semifinal |
France |
Win |
2-0 |
Unai Simon |
AT&T Sta |
July 15 |
Unai Simón’s Defensive Masterclass To Reach New York Final
France started the semifinal with a lot of energy, trying to put Spain on the back foot right from the start. But the tide turned when Lamine Yamal earned a penalty after being taken down in the box during the first half. Oyarzabal stepped up and coolly slotted it home, giving Spain the lead. From there, Spain found their rhythm, dominating possession for long stretches until Porro added a second goal with a brilliant finish just before the hour mark. This victory propelled Spain into their first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 2010.
This win also added some impressive records to Spain's already impressive resume. They reached their first World Cup final in 16 years and extended their unbeaten streak in regulation time to 37 matches, a run that goes back to March 2024. Goalkeeper Unai Simón notched his sixth clean sheet of the tournament, setting a new record for the most clean sheets by a goalkeeper in a single World Cup. Meanwhile, Oyarzabal tied with legends Emilio Butragueño and David Villa as Spain's all-time top scorer in men's World Cup history, each with five goals. Spain's manager, Luis de la Fuente, also maintained his unbeaten record in World Cup and European Championship matches, boasting 13 wins and just one draw so far.
2010 winners, Spain, are through to their second @FIFAWorldCup final in history! 👏🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/kT7KGJOajX
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 14, 2026
On the flip side, France's loss marked the end of several impressive runs. Kylian Mbappé experienced his first World Cup defeat in a match he started, and France's hopes of becoming only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals were dashed. This defeat also highlighted France's recent struggles against Spain, as they have now lost to La Roja in three straight major tournament semifinals
As Spain prepares for the final against either Argentina or England in New York, they carry with them a wave of momentum and a rich history.
