Spain booked their World Cup finals slot on Tuesday in Dallas after surprising two-time world champions France, 2-0, in the semifinals to confirm their status as finalists on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife in New Jersey,
Les Bleus started out on a high, controlling a bigger chunk of the game, only for defender Lucas Digne to misjudge his clearance, instead missing the ball and hitting Lamine Yamal, resulting to a penalty that Oyarzabal scored in the 22nd minute.
Didier Deschamps' woes continued in what is now his last match at the helm of the french football national team when dependable center back William Saliba had to be stretched off in the 29th minute, with Maxence LaCroix taking his place.
France went to the break trailing 1-0, for the first time at this world cup, and when they came back from the break, a disjointed back four started having lapses that Spain took advantage of, breaking off from their midfield, wide to Lamine Yamal who was having a field day against Lucas Digne, sliding the ball past LaCroix for an advancing Pedro Poro to beat his markers and Mike Maignan between the posts in the 58th minute for Spain's second.
Despite their efforts, they desperately tried their best but could not break Delafuente's charges, who had only been scored once at this tournament.
France, who have not lost a World Cup game by two goals since 2010, now bow out of North America and pave way for Spain who have only played once at a World Cup final, the same tournament in 2010 when Vicente del Bosque led them to their one and only Cup in history.
Spain now awaits the winner of England vs Argentina on Wednesday in Atlanta, to set up their second World Cup final appearance, 16 years since their last one in south Africa.