July 14, 2026
France vs Spain Live FIFA World Cup 2026: Oyarzabal Scores First for Spain
Spain made a bright start against France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final by taking an early 1-0 lead through Mikel Oyarzabal. The Spanish forward calmly converted a penalty in the 22nd minute to put his side ahead in one of the tournament's biggest matches.
The breakthrough came after Spain applied early pressure and forced France onto the back foot. Oyarzabal showed great composure from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Spain a deserved advantage.
France, who entered the semi-final after winning all of their previous World Cup matches, now face the challenge of finding a response against a confident Spanish side. Didier Deschamps' men have enjoyed an impressive campaign, but they must overturn the deficit to keep their hopes of reaching the final alive.
Spain, meanwhile, have continued their excellent run of form with another strong display. They have looked organized in defence and dangerous going forward, making life difficult for the French attack in the opening stages.
With plenty of time still left in the contest, the semi-final remains wide open. France will look to fight back, while Spain aim to protect their lead and move one step closer to lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy.