Spain beat France 2-0 in the first semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Dallas. Masterful tactics by coach Luis de la Fuente and goals from Michel Ayrzabal and Pedro Porro helped Spain beat Didier Deschamps’ France. With the stunning win, the Spanish side broke Italy’s all-time world record unbeaten streak of 37 consecutive matches in international football.
Spain played aggressively from the start of the match and created the offside trap with the help of Pedro Porro, Pau Qubarsi and Aymeric Laporte, keeping France’s star players like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele neutral. Kuberci kept a close eye on the French captain Mbappe in particular. In the 40th minute, France’s Lucas Digne fouled Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Spain got a penalty when he tried to clear the ball inside the box. Mikel Ayrzabal took the opportunity to advance Spain. It was Ayerzabal’s fourteenth goal for the national team in 2026, a national record for any Spanish player.
With this victory, Spain set several new records in the history of international football. Since losing 1-0 to Colombia in London in March 2024, Spain have won 28 and drawn nine matches and are unbeaten in 37 matches. Italy are unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches from 2018 to 2021, while Argentina are tied for third with Spain and are the first European nation to win eight consecutive knockout matches at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. The previous record with seven wins was held by Italy and Spain.
Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday. The currently in-form Spanish side will have a chance to set a new single world record for the most unbeaten matches in the history of international football if they win the final.