Spain’s late goal sets up World Cup semifinal vs. France

Two of European football's heavyweights will meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals after France dispatched Morocco and Spain edged past Belgium in a pair of quarterfinal matches this week. The semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium.fox4news

France Cruise Past Morocco

France booked their place first, beating Morocco 2-0 on Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Captain Kylian Mbappé missed a first-half penalty but made amends on the hour mark, curling in a shot from just inside the box for his 20th World Cup goal. Six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added a second with a low drive to put the result beyond doubt.reuters+1

Mbappé, 27, became the youngest player to reach 20 World Cup appearances in the process. The match was a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, which France also won 2-0. Morocco's elimination means no African nations remain in the tournament.foxnews+2

Spain's Late Drama Against Belgium

A day later on Friday, Spain needed a late intervention to overcome Belgium 2-1. Substitute Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute off a rebound to send Spain through. Charles De Ketelaere had earlier equalized for Belgium after Spain took the lead, but Merino's strike — reminiscent of his late heroics at Euro 2024 — sealed the victory.nbcnews+4

A Blockbuster Awaits in Dallas

The semifinal will kick off at 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium. France enter as tournament favorites, with Mbappé leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals. Spain, the reigning European champions, have shown resilience throughout the tournament. The winner will advance to the final, while the other semifinal features the winners of the Norway-England and Argentina-Switzerland quarterfinals.cosm+2