Spain Prepares to Face France in World Cup 2026 Semifinal after Narrow Victory Over Belgium

Spain has secured its first World Cup semifinal appearance since their 2010 triumph by defeating Belgium 2-1 in a tense quarterfinal match. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute for Spain, but Belgium quickly equalized through Charles De Ketelaere just before halftime, ending Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón’s remarkable 649-minute clean sheet run. The winning goal came late in the 88th minute when Mikel Merino—dubbed the 'Holy Merino' by the Spanish press—capitalized on an error by Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged the team’s dominant possession but stressed the need for improvement ahead of their semifinal clash with France, scheduled for July 14 in Dallas. Spain’s 19-year-old star Lamine Yamal expressed confidence and excitement for the matchup against France, calling it exactly what fans have been waiting for, highlighting the strong offensive threat posed by France’s Kylian Mbappé. Yamal also referenced Spain’s previous semifinal win against France at Euro 2024, reinforcing the team’s belief.

Belgium’s challenge was hampered by the injury of their star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who exited early, impacting their defensive resilience. Spain’s triumph marks a significant moment as they advance beyond the Round of 16 for the first time in 16 years, aiming to build momentum toward their second World Cup title.

Other semifinals set include England versus Norway and Argentina against Switzerland, with Norway making a notable return to the tournament stage after 28 years. The build-up to the Spain-France showdown is intense, reflecting both teams’ storied football histories and the high stakes of the World Cup’s final four stage.