Macron Lauds French Team Despite FIFA World Cup Semi-Final Loss to Spain

In the wake of a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his admiration for the French National Football Team. He highlighted their youth and potential in a heartfelt message on social media. Spain's victory, marked by goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, sends them to the final, while France prepares for a third-place playoff. This article delves into the match details and Macron's supportive remarks.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 05:15 IST

Macron's Support for the French Team

Paris, France - Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media to commend the French National Football Team for their dedication to representing the nation. He emphasized that the team is 'young and brimming with potential.'

In a message posted on X, Macron congratulated Spain on their advancement to the World Cup Final for the second time, while also expressing optimism about the future of the French squad.

He stated, 'Kudos to Spain for this achievement. I appreciate the Bleus for their commitment to our colors. Although tonight's loss is tough, this team is young and full of promise.'

Spain showcased a strong performance at Dallas Stadium, effectively combining solid defense with precise finishing, which had been lacking in their earlier matches, to secure their spot in the final.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro sealed the victory with a well-placed shot following a brilliant assist from Dani Olmo.

Porro's outstanding display earned him the Player of the Match title.

With this victory, Spain advances to the World Cup final, where they will face either England or Argentina at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.

Spain's last World Cup final appearance was in 2010, where they triumphed over the Netherlands thanks to a goal from Andres Iniesta in extra time.

Oyarzabal's performance continues to impress, bringing his total to 18 goals in his last 20 matches for Spain. His penalty also marked him as the sixth player to reach 30 international goals, joining the ranks of legends like David Villa and Raul.

France entered the match as slight favorites and had early chances, particularly through Kylian Mbappe. However, Spain took the lead after Lamine Yamal earned a penalty.

Oyarzabal converted the penalty past goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Despite France's attempts to regain control by bringing on Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki, Spain maintained their momentum, leaving little room for France to score.

Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon made crucial saves, and defender Marc Cucurella executed a vital tackle to thwart Mbappe.

The final whistle ignited celebrations among the Spanish players, while France now prepares for a third-place playoff on Saturday, where Mbappe will have another chance to increase his goal tally in pursuit of the Golden Boot.