Spain Defeats France, Advances to World Cup Final

Spain defeated France 2-0 in their World Cup semifinal, securing a place in the 2026 final. France entered the match as tournament favorites but came apart on the big stage, ESPN reported, in what the network called Spain's greatest showing at the World Cup yet.

The loss ended Kylian Mbappe's bid for a third consecutive appearance in a World Cup final, according to AP News. Mbappe remains tied with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, the award given to the tournament's top scorer.

Spain's opponent in Sunday's final will be decided Wednesday, when England and Argentina meet in Atlanta in the second semifinal. Ahead of that game, both coaches worked to lower the temperature around a matchup loaded with history. England's Thomas Tuchel said his main goal was to clear his players' minds before what he described as a monumental match. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also sought to keep the focus on the football rather than the rivalry's off-field history.

The context

England and Argentina share one of soccer's most intense rivalries, according to CBS Sports. Its history includes the origin story of red cards in the sport, the Falklands War and Diego Maradona's "hand of god" goal at the 1986 World Cup. During Argentina's run to this year's semifinals, a chant referencing the Falklands, known in Argentina as the Islas Malvinas, along with Maradona and Messi, has become a common refrain among fans and players. The 2026 tournament is being played on U.S. soil, and the Spain-France semifinal was widely viewed as a classic, with CBS Sports noting the second semifinal is positioned to deliver more memorable moments.

Why it matters

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and this edition is being held in the United States. Spain's win removed the tournament favorite and locked in one finalist, while the England-Argentina semifinal carries decades of on-field and geopolitical history into a single elimination game. For Mbappe, the result closes off a personal milestone, though the Golden Boot race with Messi remains open. Fans referring to "Leo's last World Cup" in their chants add a further layer of stakes for Argentina's run.

What’s next

England and Argentina play Wednesday in Atlanta, with the winner advancing to face Spain in Sunday's World Cup final. The Golden Boot race between Mbappe and Messi also remains undecided, with the two players currently tied. How the semifinal unfolds, and whether the rivalry's history spills into the match itself, will shape the buildup to the final.