Spain beats Belgium 2-1 to reach World Cup semis
Mikel Merino scores in 88th minute as Spain advances; semi-final set against France on July 14.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Spain beats Belgium 2-1 to reach World Cup semis — Saturday, July 11, 2026
Spain defeats Belgium 2-1 in quarterfinal; France advances to semis vs Spain; Norway-England quarterfinal previewed. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is in its final stages, with Spain and France advancing to the first semifinal after Spain defeated Belgium in the quarter‑finals and France ended Morocco’s run in the other last‑eight clash.
Biggest developments
Kansas City sees surge in World Cup interest for training bases
Club president notes spike in inquiries from international federations for 2026 camp sites.
World Cup mailbag: bigger tournament, A/C fairness, stutter penalties
Reader questions addressed on 2026 format changes and officiating concerns.
Important posts & threads
Rudi Garcia proud after Belgium's narrow loss to Spain
Belgium coach comments post-quarterfinal defeat.
Norway will win World Cup 2026
Fan prediction tagging Erling Haaland ahead of England clash.
Norway prepares for England quarterfinal
Photos of Norway squad training ahead of matchup.
Bullish takes
- Record attendance surpassing 1994 World Cup
- Expanded 48-team format drawing new debuts like Cape Verde
Critical takes
- Questions on A/C fairness and penalty rules in mailbag
Why this matters
Knockout stage intensifies with France-Spain semi set; host cities see economic boosts.