​ARLINGTON — The end came at 3:59 p.m., with exultant Spain players shouting and looking skyward and anguished France counterparts dropping to their knees.Thanks to its suffocating defense, world No. 3 Spain’s 2-0 toppling of No. 1 France in Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal in Dallas Stadium lacked the drama many expected, but the match-long atmosphere was nonetheless electric.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSpain moves on to face Wednesday’s Argentina-England winner in Sunday’s World Cup final in New York Stadium, but North Texas’ tournament-most nine-game run ended with Tuesday’s final whistle and explosion of cheers from La Roja faithful.“In our case, we are responsible for this joy that people are feeling in the streets,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after his team received a congratulatory call from Spanish King Felipe VI. “We are a country united for a common cause.”History will show that in the most consequential soccer game in North Texas annals, French superstar Kylian Mbappé was stifled by a Spanish defense that’s yielded one goal in seven 2026 World Cup matches. And the record will show that nine matches in the home of the Dallas Cowboys drew 631,843 fans and produced 29 goals and countless indelible memories — on and off the pitch — for North Texans and perhaps as many as 4 million visitors.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I told FIFA when they were here in 2021 that we do things bigger and better in Texas, especially here in Dallas,” said North Texas FIFA World Cup organizing committee co-chair Dan Hunt, whose father, Lamar, was co-chair of Dallas’ 1994 World Cup organizing committee.“I think they now recognize that’s how we do things.”Among the near-sellout crowd was a glittering array of stars that included American-French actor Timothée Chalamet; Spanish actor Javier Bardem; Sir David Beckham and wife Victoria of England; and Jamaican track star Usain Bolt.Most in the stadium probably expected at least one goal from Mbappé, especially after fellow superstars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Erling Haaland of Norway and Harry Kane of England all scored here during this World Cup.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut Mbappé and France suffered the same fate here as did seventh-ranked Portugal and 41-year-old star Cristiano Ronaldo, just eight days earlier.“Being here, in this moment, is incredible,” said Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored Spain’s first goal Tuesday, in the 22nd minute, and earlier this week pushed back against negative media commentary about La Roja’s chances.“I said what I said because it was truly how I felt. For us, the most important thing was keeping a positive mind-set, so we could take this huge step today.”Spain midfielder Mikel Oyarzabal (21) celebrates after scoring from a penalty during the first half of a FIFA World Cup semifinal game against France, on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dalla