Spain Advances to World Cup Final After Victory Over France, Yamal Dominates Mbappe

Spain defeated France on Tuesday to reach the World Cup final for only the second time in its history, positioning itself for a rare double victory. Barcelona star Laamin Yamal maintained a remarkable record against French forward Kylian Mbappe, winning nine of their 11 encounters in both national team and club matches, including a 6-0 advantage in knockout games.

Historically, only two teams have won the World Cup as reigning European champions: West Germany in 1974 and Spain in 2010. Spain also secured the European Championship in 2012, completing one of the most impressive streaks in international football. Prior to this tournament, Spain had not won a knockout World Cup match since their 2010 triumph but has now returned to the final stage.

Spain has reached the final in seven of the last eight major tournaments where it made the semifinals. Coach Luis de la Fuente holds a record of 13 wins and one draw in European Championship and World Cup matches without a loss. The Spanish team remains unbeaten in official matches since March 2024, with a streak of 37 games (27 wins and 10 draws), tying the world record set by Italy in 2021.

Spain previously faced England in the last European Championship final and could meet them again in the upcoming final. A planned "Finalissima" match against Argentina, pitting the European and South American champions, was canceled due to Operation Harry's Roar and security concerns in Qatar, which was to host the game. The next World Cup will be held in 2026.