French fans in Paris shared their disappointment on Thursday (July 15) after their 2-0 World Cup defeat by Spain in the competition's semi-final match the previous night.

“I haven't quite come to terms with it yet. We were really excited about this team, and yesterday I felt like I'd been—maybe not betrayed, but perhaps a little fooled—because taking a beating like that is hard to swallow,” said Stephane, a sales representative.

"We were also pretty surprised that we couldn't score a goal,” a sports shop manager, Celine Mendy, said.

Spain suffocated France deep in the heart of Texas on Tuesday, powering into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2010 with a spellbinding 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.

French fans have acknowledged Spain’s superiority in the match.

“We’ll always support Les Bleus, but we have to admit that Spain was better than us,” said Kilian, a valet at the Champs-Elysées avenue.

The national headlines highlighted this nation-wide disappointment, across front pages.

The French capital’s daily, Le Parisien, also opted for a pun titling their front-page “Fallen from grace,” as it showed France’s star player, Kylian Mbappé walking away from a ball, alone on the pitch, as he rubs his face with his shirt.

European champions Spain are now within one victory of completing a double of the game’s biggest prizes. They will discover their final opponents on Wednesday's semi-final between England or Argentina.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Disappointment in Paris after France lose their World Cup semi-final 2-0 to Spain.

VIDEO SHOWS: VOX POPS OF FRENCH FANS REACTING TO SPAIN DEFEAT IN SEMI-FINALS/ CHAMPS ELYSEES AND ARC DE TRIOMPHE/ FRONT-PAGES OF FRENCH NATIONAL PRESS SPEAKING ABOUT FRANCE'S DEFEAT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. CHAMPS-ELYSEES AVENUE WITH ARC DE TRIOMPHE IN THE BACKGROUND

2. MAN SMOKING ON A BALCONY

3. PEOPLE ON CHAMPS-ELYSEES AVENUE

4. FRENCH FLAGS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SALES REPRESENTATIVE, STEPHANE, SAYING:

“It's complicated—to be completely honest, I haven't quite come to terms with it yet. We were really excited about this team, and yesterday I felt like I'd been—maybe not betrayed, but perhaps a little fooled—because taking a beating like that is hard to swallow.”

6. PEOPLE WALKING ON CHAMPS-ELYSEES

7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) SPORT STORE MANAGER, CELINE MENDY, SAYING:

“It's true that we were confident based on the team's recent performances. But we were also pretty surprised that we couldn't score a goal. So, a little bit of disappointment, but they had a great run.”

8. PEOPLE WALKING ON CHAMPS ELYSEES

9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) VALET ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES, KILIAN, SAYING:

“Unfortunately, we feel sad because we had a great World Cup, and to end it with a game like that is pretty sad, unfortunately. That said, we’ll always support Les Bleus, but we have to admit that Spain was better than us.”

10. PEOPLE WALKING ON CHAMPS-ELYSEES

11. VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC ON CHAMPS-ELYSEES

12. FRENCH SPORTS NEWSPAPER, L’EQUIPE’S FRONT PAGE SHOWING FRENCH SOCCER PLAYERS, KYLIAN MBAPPE AND MANU KONE, READING (French):

“Shooting star”

13. FRENCH NEWSPAPERS SHOWING THE FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM ON FRONT PAGES WITH HEADLINES ON DEFEAT

14. VARIOUS OF DAILY NEWSPAPER, LE PARISIAN’S FRONT PAGE READING (French): “Fallen from grace”

15. IMAGE OF MPABBE ON FRONT PAGE OF RIGHT-WING DAILY, LE FIGARO

16. LE FIGARO’S FRONT PAGE SHOWING FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM AND READING (French): “The Spanish, masters of the game, end Les Bleus' dream”

17. FRENCH NEWSPAPERS SHOWING THE FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM ON FRONT PAGES AND SPEAKING ABOUT ITS DEFEAT