Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed gratitude towards the team’s supporters after La Roja secured a 2-0 victory against France to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
De la Fuente emphasised the importance of continued fan support as Spain prepares for the title match. “I want to thank a fanbase that is fully behind us. I feel very proud. Let them keep cheering us on, pushing us; we need that encouragement. The hardest step remains,” he said following the semifinal win.
The coach also praised his squad, calling them “an exceptional generation of footballers” and remarked on their potential for further improvement. “I am constantly surprised by what this team can do. The margin for improvement is infinite,” he added.
Spain secured their place in the final with a disciplined defensive display and clinical finishing at Dallas Stadium. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Lamine Yamal earned the penalty, and Pedro Porro increased the lead early in the second half with a well-executed finish following a combination with Dani Olmo. Porro was awarded Player of the Match.
Oyarzabal extended his impressive scoring record, reaching 18 goals in his last 20 appearances for Spain. His goal also made him the sixth player to achieve 30 international goals for the national team, joining David Villa, Raul, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata and David Silva.
Although France entered the semifinal as slight favourites, they struggled to breach Spain’s organised defence. Kylian Mbappe posed an early threat, but Spain maintained control throughout the match. Goalkeeper Unai Simon made crucial saves, while Marc Cucurella executed an important tackle to deny Mbappe as France’s attempts to mount a comeback were unsuccessful despite second-half substitutions of Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki.
Spain will face either defending champions Argentina or England in the World Cup final. France will compete in the third-place playoff on Saturday (local time), with Mbappe remaining in contention for the tournament’s Golden Boot.