Spain beats France 2-0 to reach World Cup final

France’s high‑scoring campaign at the 2026 World Cup was halted when Spain defeated the hosts 2‑0 in a group‑stage match held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. Spain opened the scoring with a swift header from Sergio Ramos in the 12th minute, and a second goal from Dani Carvajal in the 68th minute sealed the win. France, who had scored 11 goals in their first two matches, were unable to find the net, and the loss drops them to the bottom of Group A with only one point.

The defeat also undermines Kylian Mbappé’s ambition to become the first player to reach three World Cup finals. Despite a strong start to the tournament, Mbappé was denied a goal by a disciplined Spanish defense and missed a late penalty that could have tied the match. With the loss, France will need to rely on a win in their final group game against Saudi Arabia to advance, while Spain’s victory propels them to the round of 16 with a perfect record.

Spain’s triumph marks a significant shift in the tournament’s early dynamics, giving the Spanish side momentum as they prepare for the knockout stages. For France, the setback forces a reassessment of tactics and squad depth as they seek to recover from the early exit and salvage their campaign.