France President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Spain after La Roja defeated France 2-0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday (Wednesday IST).
Soon after the match, Macron shared a message on X, praising both Spain for reaching the final and the French team for their fighting spirit throughout the tournament.
Macron backs France’s young squad
Despite the disappointing result, Macron remained positive about the future of the French national team. He praised the players for their commitment and said the squad has the quality to achieve greater success in the coming years.
“Bravo to Spain for this qualification. Thank you to the Bleus for carrying our colors with commitment. Tonight’s defeat is hard to take, but this team is young and full of promise,” Macron wrote on X.
Bravo à l’Espagne pour cette qualification. Merci aux Bleus d’avoir porté nos couleurs avec engagement. La défaite de ce soir est difficile, mais cette équipe est jeune et pleine d’avenir.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 14, 2026
His message quickly gained attention on social media, with many fans appreciating his support for the team despite the heartbreaking loss.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Spain outclass Mbappe’s France 2-0 to storm into final
France’s unbeaten run comes to an end
France entered the semi-final in excellent form after winning all six of their previous matches in the tournament. Expectations were high, but Didier Deschamps’ side failed to find their rhythm against a well-organised Spanish team.
Spain controlled the game for long periods and limited France’s attacking threats, bringing Les Bleus’ impressive unbeaten run to an end.
Spain take control with first-half penalty
Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty to register his fifth goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The early goal gave Spain confidence and forced France to chase the game for the remainder of the contest.
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France’s attack fails to deliver
France relied on stars like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise to spark a comeback, but Spain’s disciplined defence gave them very little space.
The French forwards struggled to create clear chances as Spain remained compact and composed throughout the match.
Pedro Porro seals Spain’s place in the final
Spain put the result beyond doubt in the 58th minute when Pedro Porro finished a brilliant team move to make it 2-0.
France searched for a way back into the match, but the Spanish defence stayed strong and comfortably protected their two-goal advantage until the final whistle.
Porro doubles the lead ✌️🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/zHvMlH6k3q
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026
Spain move one step closer to World Cup glory
With the victory, Spain reached the FIFA World Cup final for only the second time in their history. The 2010 world champions are now just one win away from lifting the trophy once again.
Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19 (July 20 IST).
Spain are one step closer to glory 🇪🇸#FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 14, 2026
England and Argentina battle for the other final spot
The second semi-final will see England take on defending champions Argentina for a place in the final. England are chasing their first FIFA World Cup final appearance since lifting the trophy in 1966, while Argentina have won all six of their matches in the tournament and will be aiming to defend their world title.
Also Read: This 127 kg cricketer became World Cup hero with one super catch; His name is…, plays for…
First published on: Jul 15, 2026 06:41 AM IST
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Aditya Mallick
Aditya Mallick is a Senior Sub-Editor (Sports) with over five years of experience covering cricket, football, and other major sporting events. He has extensively reported on ICC tournaments, international football competitions, and domestic leagues, delivering accurate, engaging, and insightful sports coverage. Aditya holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Maharshi Dayanand University and has built a strong reputation for producing well-researched and reader-focused sports journalism. Every article written by Aditya is thoroughly reviewed and fact-checked by the editorial team before publication, ensuring the highest standards of accuracy, credibility, and reliability. His commitment to responsible journalism has earned him the trust of readers and sports enthusiasts alike. Outside the newsroom, Aditya stays actively connected with the sporting world and follows the latest developments across cricket, football, and other global sports. Connect with him on LinkedIn to explore his latest work and insights into the world of sports.
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