Spain youngster Lamine Yamal wasted no time looking ahead to the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after La Roja defeated France 2-0 in the semifinal. Moments after helping Spain book a place in football’s biggest match, the teenage star shared a confident message on social media as the team shifted its focus to Sunday’s title clash in New York.

Posting photos from the victory on Instagram, Yamal wrote, “nuevayol vamos por ti,” which translates to, “New York, we’re coming for you.” The message reflected Spain’s growing confidence after another commanding display at the tournament.

Yamal played a key role in Spain’s semifinal victory

The 19-year-old started alongside fellow teenager Pau Cubarsi in Spain’s lineup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Their selection created a piece of World Cup history, with Spain becoming the first team to field two teenagers in the starting XI of a FIFA World Cup semifinal.

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Yamal made his biggest contribution midway through the first half. He won possession from Lucas Digne with an intelligent press before being fouled inside the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, allowing Mikel Oyarzabal to convert the penalty in the 22nd minute and give Spain a deserved lead.

That early breakthrough helped Spain settle into the match as they continued to dominate possession and control the tempo.

Lamine Yamal
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Spain’s Lamine Yamal | X [FIFA]

Spain complete comfortable win over France

France found it difficult to respond as Spain dictated play for long periods. Early in the second half, Pedro Porro combined neatly with Dani Olmo before finishing calmly beyond goalkeeper Mike Maignan to double Spain’s advantage.

The second goal effectively ended France’s hopes of reaching the final. Yamal almost added his name to the scoresheet soon after, but his finish was ruled out following a tight offside decision.

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France attempted to fight back through Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, but Spain’s organised defensive display kept them under control for most of the evening.

The clean sheet was Spain’s sixth in seven matches during the tournament, highlighting the balance between their attacking quality and defensive discipline.

Spain return to the FIFA World Cup final

The victory secured Spain’s place in only the second FIFA World Cup final in the country’s history. It also marks Spain’s first appearance in the final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010, ending a 16-year wait to return to football’s biggest stage.

Luis de la Fuente’s side has impressed throughout the tournament with composed performances, effective pressing and consistent control of matches against some of the world’s strongest teams.

Their semifinal display against France reinforced why many now view Spain as one of the most complete teams in the competition.

Yamal already focused on the final

Although celebrations followed the semifinal victory, Yamal’s social media post made it clear that Spain’s attention has already shifted to the final challenge. His message, “nuevayol vamos por ti,” or “New York, we’re coming for you,” captured the mood inside the Spanish camp as they prepare for one last match.

With a place in history now within reach, Spain will aim to complete their impressive World Cup campaign by winning a second FIFA World Cup title, while Yamal continues to play a leading role in one of the nation’s most memorable tournament runs.

FAQs

What message did Lamine Yamal post after Spain reached the World Cup final?

Yamal shared “nuevayol vamos por ti,” which translates to “New York, we’re coming for you,” after Spain defeated France.

How did Lamine Yamal contribute to Spain’s win over France?

Yamal won the penalty that led to Spain’s opening goal and played a key role in the team’s 2-0 semifinal victory over France.