Spain reach second World Cup semi-final, warn France: 'If anyone should fear, it's us'

The breakthrough in Los Angeles

Spain booked a World Cup semi-final place for only the second time in their history with a hard-fought victory over Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium. Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal, reprising his role as a late-game hero after his stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the last 16. Manager Luis de la Fuente admitted the sight of the Navarrese midfielder gives him complete peace of mind. The 2024 European champions dominated possession and created the better chances, yet needed Merino's intervention to break Belgian resistance.

I look back, I look at Mikel Merino and I say: I'm completely calm.

Spain's performance was built on control through Rodri, who recorded 118 interventions, and width supplied by Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro. Yamal attempted six shots, more than any other Spanish player, though none found the net. The team's collective dominance was underlined by the fact that three Spanish players exceeded 100 actions during the match: Rodri, Pau Cubarsí with 105, and Porro with 101.

Yamal sets a milestone, eyes Mbappé

Lamine Yamal was named MVP for the second consecutive knockout match, despite finishing without a goal or an assist. The Barcelona winger became the first player in World Cup history to feature in more than five matches while aged 18 or younger. At 19 years old in 2018, Kylian Mbappé reached seven appearances and lifted the trophy in Moscow. On Tuesday in Dallas, Yamal will face Mbappé directly.

I'm very happy with the win. I want to score, but I don't go out thinking about that. If I win the World Cup, if we win it, nobody will talk about my goals.

Yamal turns 19 on 13 July, the eve of the semi-final. When reporters reminded him of the date, he replied with the detachment of a player submerged in tournament rhythm: "I don't know, the 13th of July." He shrugged off the goal-scoring narrative, noting that he scored only once during Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, a strike that came against France in the semi-finals.

Dani Olmo stresses squad depth

Dani Olmo pointed to Spain's collective strength as the foundation of their tournament run. The Barcelona midfielder contributed a vital defensive intervention in the first half, cutting out a dangerous counter-attack led by Jérémy Doku, and insisted the squad's depth is what sets them apart. Every player, he argued, is ready to start or to come on as a game-changer.

We are a team with a huge amount of quality and we are all important, those who play and those who don't. Anybody can decide a match, and in the end we all win.

Olmo stated plainly that reaching the semi-final was not the objective. Spanish football's benchmark remains the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, their only previous semi-final appearance and their sole title. The squad, he said, believes it possesses the talent and quality to go all the way.

The French challenge and recent history

Spain and France will meet on Tuesday in Dallas with a place in the World Cup final at stake. Luis de la Fuente's side enters the contest carrying the psychological edge of consecutive victories over France in official competition. Spain defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final and then prevailed 5-4 in the Nations League semi-final in June 2025.

It is legitimate and fair to think that we will work to overcome France. They will be equally worried; we are the only national team in history that has managed to beat them twice in a row in official matches.

Yamal expects a physically imposing French back line paired with quality in attack. He predicted France will not attempt to press Spain man-to-man across the pitch and reiterated that his team's plan remains unchanged: control possession and impose their style. The winger described Spain as one of the two best sides at the tournament and said his teammates are approaching the fixture with ambition rather than apprehension.

A 16-year wait ends, the final beckons

The victory over Belgium ends a 16-year gap between World Cup semi-final appearances for Spain. The class of 2010, led by Vicente del Bosque, beat Germany in the last four before defeating the Netherlands in the final. De la Fuente's team has now matched that depth of progression and faces a France side chasing a third consecutive World Cup final. The semi-final loser will be denied a shot at the title; Spain believes it has already demonstrated it can be the side that denies France.