It was expected to be a real humdinger of a match, with the world’s top two teams going head-to-head in the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Alas, only one of them showed up!
Kylian Mbappe and his team looked a far cry from the team that was billed as the favourites to enter their third consecutive World Cup final. But, Spain choked the Les Bleus 2-0 in a brilliant mix of defensive and offensive football, leaving them with nothing to show but just two shots on target. This for a team that had scored 16 goals so far in the tournament – behind only the other semifinalists Argentina (17) – and conceded two.
Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty in the 22nd minute and Pedro Porro's 58th-minute strike put Spain in their first World Cup final since 2010, when they won the title. La Roja's incredible run at this World Cup extends their unbeaten streak in regular time to 37 matches, with 28 wins and nine draws since March 2024. It surpassed the country's previous record of 35 games set between 200 and 2009.
While Spain’s clinical performance would send shivers down the spine of the winners of the second semifinal between Argentina and England tomorrow, La Roja fans believe that their team is destined to win the World Cup this time. And it’s not entirely because of the form they are in.
Will history repeat itself?
Spain’s recent run has striking similarities with their victorious campaign in 2010, and fans are not ready to dismiss them as mere coincidences.
In 2010, Spain arrived at the World Cup in South Africa as European champions after defeating Germany in the final of UEFA Euro 2008. This time, they entered the World Cup as the reigning European champions after defeating England in the final played in Germany.
In 2010, Spain were in Group H, alongside Switzerland, Honduras, and Chile. In this World Cup, too, La Roja found itself in Group H, with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde for company.
The opening game of this World Cup was played on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca, between Mexico and South Africa. In 2010, too, South Africa and Mexico kicked off the tournament on June 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg.
The list goes on. Javier Aguirre took over as Mexico’s coach this year after Jaime Lozano’s turbulent stint. Hold your breath. In 2010, Aguirre returned to lead Mexico after Sven-Göran Eriksson parted ways with the team, ahead of the World Cup.
Next, Atlético de Madrid lost the Copa del Rey final in 2010 and 2026 – against Real Sociedad in a penalty shootout this season and against Sevilla 16 years ago – and Barcelona won the La Liga ahead of the World Cups in 2010 and 2026 and the Spanish Super Cup.
Then, Real Madrid did not win a trophy in 2009-10 and 2025-26 seasons. And it was to Jose Mourinho that the club turned to on both occasions to set things right.
In another coincidence, eight Barcelona players played the World Cup in both 2010 and 2026.
In both tournaments, Spain faced a team managed by Marcelo Bielsa during the World Cup – Chile then, Uruguay this year.
And last but not the least, Shakira performed the official anthem for the World Cup in both 2010 and 2026.
