Spain are through to the World Cup 2026 final after dismantling pre-tournament favourites France 2-0 in Dallas on Wednesday, delivering what BBC football reporter John Bennett has described as one of the finest performances he has ever witnessed at a World Cup.
A statement from the European champions
La Roja were meticulous in everything they did. From the first whistle in Dallas, Spain controlled the tempo, suffocated France's attacking outlets and punished them twice to secure a dominant victory. The scoreline flatters Didier Deschamps' side in the sense that it barely tells the full story of just how commanding Spain were across ninety minutes.
This is only Spain's second ever World Cup final, and the manner in which they have arrived there has drawn widespread admiration. Quietly and efficiently, they have dismantled every opponent placed in front of them throughout this tournament across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The Rodri comparison that is turning heads
Much of the post-match conversation has centred on Spain's midfield, which Spanish football journalist Ernest Macia says is now being spoken of in the same breath as the legendary Xavi and Andrés Iniesta partnership that powered the 2010 World Cup winning side in South Africa.
At the heart of it all is Rodri, orchestrating play with a calm authority that belies the occasion. His ability to dictate rhythm, protect the back line and release teammates at precisely the right moment has been the engine driving this Spain team forward. The comparisons to those 2010 giants are bold, but the evidence on the pitch is making them increasingly difficult to dismiss.
Where it went wrong for France
French football journalist Sara Menai has been examining the wreckage of Deschamps' campaign. France came into this tournament carrying the weight of expectation — they were the pre-tournament favourites, backed by the market and backed by pundits — and yet they leave Dallas without a single goal to show from a semi-final that offered them precious little.
The noises out of the French camp will be of deep frustration. A squad of that quality — on paper one of the most talented in world football — failed to unlock a Spain side who, in contrast, looked utterly assured at every level of the pitch.
Eyes now turn to the other semi-final
Attention now switches to the second semi-final, as defending champions Argentina face England — 1966 World Cup winners — in what promises to be an occasion laden with history and intensity. South American football expert Tim Vickery has been previewing the tie, which carries its own extraordinary weight given the rivalry between these two nations across decades of international football.
Meanwhile, BBC World Service's Delyth Lloyd is already in New York, where the build-up to Sunday's final is well underway. The atmosphere is growing by the hour, and the city is beginning to feel the full force of a tournament that has sprawled across three nations and 48 competing teams.
Spain stand ninety minutes away from a second World Cup triumph. Whether they face Argentina or England in that final, they will start it having produced football that has already etched itself into the memory of this tournament.
Frequently asked
- Who did Spain beat to reach the World Cup 2026 final?
- Spain beat France 2-0 in Dallas to reach the World Cup 2026 final, knocking out the pre-tournament favourites in the semi-final stage.
- When and where is the World Cup 2026 final?
- The World Cup 2026 final takes place on Sunday in New York, with Spain set to face the winner of the Argentina vs England semi-final.
- How has Rodri performed at the 2026 World Cup?
- Rodri has been exceptional throughout the tournament, with Spanish football journalists comparing his midfield influence to the legendary Xavi and Andrés Iniesta partnership from Spain's 2010 World Cup winning side.