Dikkelvenne · Second Amateur Division - Play-offs · Goalkeeper · #1 · Belgium · 25 yrs
France and Spain face off in a crucial 2026 World Cup semifinal, with a place in the final on the line. The 2026 World Cup semifinals get underway at Dallas Stadium, where France and Spain meet in a heavyweight clash as both sides look to book their place in Sunday’s grand final. Spain reached this stage by beating Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals, a match settled by Mikel Merino’s 88th-minute winner after Fabian Ruiz’s opener had been canceled out by Charles De Ketelaere. It capped a knockout run that also included a 1-0 win over Portugal in the Round of 16. For this crucial match, Lamine Yamal will start and be one of the attacking focal points alongside Mikel Oyarzabal, the team’s top scorer with four goals. France, meanwhile, arrive unbeaten through six matches, having swept past Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals behind goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. Kylian Mbappe celebrates a goal for France vs Morocco. (Getty Images) Mbappe leads all scorers at the tournament with eight goals, more than half of France’s total output in the competition, and will start and captain his side once again. France’s confirmed lineup Didier Deschamps’ main decision centers on Aurelien Tchouameni, who is available again after missing two matches with a muscle injury but has been described as not fully fit. However, Deschamps could still hand him the start over Manu Kone. France‘s confirmed starting XI: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe. Spain’s confirmed lineup Luis de la Fuente is expected to stick with the same approach that got past Belgium, keeping Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo both involved through the middle of the park rather than turning to Pedri, who remains an option off the bench. Spain‘s confirmed starting XI: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
The quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup have wrapped up, and the four remaining teams now know where and when they'll face off for a place in the final. The quarterfinal round of the 2026 World Cup has delivered its final four, and the road to the title has never been clearer. Across four matches spread over three days, the tournament trimmed its final eight down to the semifinalists who will battle for a place in the championship game. France were the first side through, dispatching Morocco 2-0 at Boston Stadium, with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele sealing the tournament’s first semifinal spot. A day later, Spain followed them into the last four with a 2-1 win over Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium, a match settled by Mikel Merino’s 88th-minute rebound after Fabian Ruiz’s opener and Charles De Ketelaere’s equalizer had cancelled each other out. The final two semifinal berths were decided on Saturday, where England needed a stoppage-time equalizer and a Jude Bellingham extra-time winner to get past Norway, while Alexis Mac Allister, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez gave Argentina a 3-1 win over Switzerland to reach the semifinals. OFFICIAL: THE 2026 WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS ARE SET.Only four matches remain before the tournament comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/THXIxMw03B— Bolavip US (@bolavipus) July 12, 2026 2026 World Cup semifinal schedule With the bracket complete, here is the full slate for the final four: Tuesday, July 14 France vs Spain — Dallas Stadium Wednesday, July 15 England vs Argentina — Atlanta Stadium
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz, preferred to Pedri in the starting line-up, gave La Roja the lead in the 30th minute, converting the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had made the initial save. Belgium levelled 11 minutes later through a powerful Charles De Ketelaere header, ending Spain's remarkable run of 649 minutes without conceding at a World Cup. The second half proved much tougher for Belgium, particularly after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois broke down in tears when he appeared to suffer a thigh injury and was forced off in the 77th minute. Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens was handed a difficult task in his place, but he could only parry a Spanish effort into the path of Mikel Merino, who converted the rebound to put Spain 2–1 ahead. Merino once again made an immediate impact from the bench, scoring the winner just 100 seconds after coming on, much as he did against Portugal. Spain will now face France in only their second-ever World Cup semi-final. Their only previous appearance came in 2010, when they went on to lift the trophy.
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros deliver a comprehensive live reaction to Spain's tense 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium, highlighting Charles De Ketelaere's breakthrough header, Thibaut Courtois' unfortunate injury, and Mikel Merino's legendary super-sub heroics. Broadcasting from Miami, the guys hand out official match grades, honor the international career of Kevin De Bruyne, and evaluate Lamine Yamal's development before previewing the colossal Spain vs. France semifinal and the remaining quarterfinal fixtures involving England, Norway, Argentina, and Switzerland.
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