France, which had scored 16 goals in six matches before the semi-final, suffered a 2-0 defeat to Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with French attackers Mbappé and teammates unable to break through Spain's midfield control.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
Kylian Mbappe said France's 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain was caused by tactical and technical blunders, particularly a failure to press Spain high up the pitch and being outnumbered 3-on-2 in midfield. The 27-year-old French captain, who scored eight goals in the tournament, called the defeat a "huge disappointment" that ended France's bid for a third straight World Cup final appearance.
15 July 2026 · The Standard →
Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final on July 14, 2026, with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (penalty) and Pedro Porro, progressing to face either England or Argentina in the final.
15 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →