Unai Simón just reminded the world why Spain’s defense has been the most suffocating force in the 2026 World Cup. The goalkeeper produced a crucial save in the semifinal against France on July 5, preserving Spain’s lead at a moment when the tournament’s trajectory hung on a single reflex.
A shutout streak for the history books
Simón’s save against France wasn’t an isolated act of brilliance. It was the latest chapter in what has become the longest consecutive shutout streak in World Cup history, now stretching beyond 650 minutes without conceding a goal.
To put that in perspective, the previous record had stood for 36 years.
Spain’s defensive numbers across this tournament read like a typo. Heading into the semifinal, the team had conceded just a single goal in six matches. Five clean sheets in six games.
