local
Spain shuts down France and Kylian Mbappé, advances to the World Cup final with a 2-0 victory
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports
· July 14, 2026
· 1 min read
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by teenager Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro added another goal and Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday. A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal wa...
Key takeaway A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal was denied a [...
Why this matters in The McAllen
The Rio Grande Valley's soccer fans are likely keeping a close eye on the World Cup semifinals, and Kylian Mbappé's presence in France's lineup against Spain is sure to generate excitement. With the Valley's strong Hispanic heritage and passion for the sport, many locals will be watching the match, possibly drawing comparisons to the skills of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. The fact that Mbappé and Messi are currently tied in the race for a key individual honor will only add to the interest. As the semifinal match unfolds, Valley residents will be paying attention to see if Mbappé can help France advance to the final, and whether he can pull ahead of Messi in their individual competition. The match's outcome will undoubtedly be a topic of conversation in McAllen 's restaurants, cafes, and community gatherings.
About this story
Original reporting by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . The McAllen surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 14, 2026 ·
Source: ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by teenager Lamine Yamal, Pedro Porro added another goal and Spain advanced to its first World Cup final since winning in 2010 with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday. A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal wa...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 14, 2026 by ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports and curated for The McAllen readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by STEPHEN HAWKINS, Associated Press at ValleyCentral (KVEO/CBS4) - Sports. To learn more about how The McAllen selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The McAllen, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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