Spain Edges Belgium, Faces Formidable France in Semis

Spain has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though their path has been marked by a series of underwhelming performances. In their quarterfinal match on Friday, Spain narrowly defeated Belgium 2-1.

Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute, securing the win. This victory was particularly notable as it came after Belgium's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, left the game due to injury in the 71st minute.

Despite the win, questions linger about Spain's offensive capabilities. Young star Lamine Yamal has yet to record a goal contribution in four consecutive matches, and the team has scored two or fewer goals in four of their six games.

Spain will now face France in the semifinals. France has been a dominant force in the tournament, winning all six of their matches and outscoring opponents by 14 goals. This sets up a challenging matchup for Spain, who are considered underdogs against the French squad.