France to meet Spain in World Cup 2026 semi-final after Merino's 88th-minute winner sinks Belgium
Spain beat Belgium 2-1 with a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino, while France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals. The first semi-final will be played on 14 July in Arlington, Texas.
Late drama sends Spain through
Spain advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-final with a 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday, repeating the late-game heroics that saw them past Portugal earlier in the tournament. Fabián Ruiz put Spain ahead after 30 minutes, but Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium four minutes before half-time. Substitute Mikel Merino, on the pitch for only two minutes, struck the decisive goal in the 88th minute. The goal echoed his extra-time winner against Portugal in the round of 16, a pattern the Portuguese press has begun calling the 'Fórmula Portugal'.
- Fabián Ruiz scores for Spain
- Charles De Ketelaere equalises for Belgium
- Mikel Merino substituted on
- Mikel Merino scores the winning goal
France's controlled path
The same day, France secured their semi-final spot with a 2-0 victory over Morocco. The result was more straightforward than Spain's, the defending European champions managing the game without conceding. The win sets up a high-profile encounter between two of Europe's strongest sides.
Semi-final set for Arlington
The first semi-final of World Cup 2026 will take place on Tuesday, 14 July, in Arlington, Texas. Kick-off is scheduled for 14:00 local time (20:00 in Lisbon). The venue, AT&T Stadium, will host a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi-final and the 2025 Nations League final. Both teams enter the match with momentum: Spain after back-to-back late escapes, France after a clinical quarter-final display.
A familiar rivalry
France and Spain last met in a competitive knockout match at the Euro 2024 semi-final, where Spain reached the final. The 2025 Nations League final also saw the two sides face off. The World Cup meeting will be the third consecutive major tournament encounter between them, with a place in the final at stake.
