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2026 FIFA World Cup
Merino sends Spain to the semis, but La Roja need more from wasteful attack
You'd think a team boasting Lamine Yamal would score goals for fun, but to beat Belgium, Spain needed midfielder Mikel Merino to net the winner.
Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Crazy scenes in Madrid as Merino scores winner for Spain vs. Belgium
0:31
Party in Madrid as Spain beat Belgium to reach World Cup semifinals
0:47
Spain's Yamal: If anyone can stop France, it's us
0:44
Belgium fans celebrate De Ketelaere's equaliser vs. Spain
0:32
Spanish fans celebrate Ruiz's goal for Spain vs. Belgium
0:47
Top Headlines
Instead of its biggest World Cup star, Pulisic was USMNT's biggest mystery
Stepping up for their countries
Norway vs. England: Saturday, 5 p.m. ET
Haaland is not just Norway's talisman, but also the World Cup's biggest star
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP via Getty Images
A tale of two No. 10s: England's Bellingham, Norway's Ødegaard are thriving
Not a one-man team
Argentina vs. Switzerland: Saturday, 9 p.m. ET
Álvarez's return could be Argentina's antidote to their Messi dependency
Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Sights and sounds
World Cup Daily live: Remix of teen Haaland's rap song hits No. 1; Spain defeat Belgium
Spotify / YouTube @@flowkingz6625 / YouTube @KygoMusic
Soccer talk
McManaman: England should have too much quality for Norway
0:39
Burley: Spain need more than Yamal to win World Cup
1:16
Down to the Elite Eight
Meet your World Cup quarterfinalists! How they got here, top players, best moments, predictions, odds
FIFA/FIFA via Getty Image
The most important players of the World Cup quarterfinals
Andscape
Andscape
Tyler Adams' World Cup diary: 'We win together, we suffer together'
John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Transfer Talk
Transfer rumors, news: Arsenal eye Club Brugge forward to replace Trossard
Gregory Van Gansen / Photonews via Getty Images
Top Headlines
- Spain beat Belgium late, book semifinal vs. France
- Merino: 'Surreal' to net Spain's WC winner again
- Spain's Yamal: France should fear us in semifinal
- Sources: Barça near deal for Dortmund's Adeyemi
- Klopp: Mbappé, Liverpool had talks on private jet
- Sources: Greenwood could opt for Fener or Atleti
- Liverpool face upheaval, CEO Edwards quits FSG
- New Portugal coach Jesus wants Ronaldo back
- ⚽ USMNT World Cup grades: Expectations met?
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- Soobum Im - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Where has Infantino been? FIFA president's epic World Cup tour
The FIFA president has been flying all across the World Cup host nations on his private jet. Here's where he has been so far during the tournament.
- Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
World Cup losses will continue until America fixes its youth soccer system
Focus is more on parents' ability to pay for travel matches than on young player development
- Luke Hales/Getty Images
Inside the 'goalkeepers' union,' where mutual support is mandatory ... until it isn't
Goalkeepers are unique among soccer players, and so is the supportive bond that (almost) all of them share.
- Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
So, Ronaldo's World Cup era is over. What have we learned?
Cristiano Ronaldo said this would be his last World Cup, and after losing to Spain on Monday night, this chapter of his incredible career is now closed. Let's look back to see where each campaign went wrong.
- (Photo by Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Neymar was Ancelotti's gamble at the World Cup, and it failed
Carlo Ancelotti calling up Neymar to Brazil's World Cup squad was always a risk, and it backfired badly when they got eliminated to Norway in the round of 16.
USMNT at the World Cup
- JL Giles/Marvel Comics
Red, White & Clueless: The untold story of the 1994 U.S. World Cup team
Legends chasing milestones
- (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals
With Cristiano Ronaldo on the quest to score 1,000 goals, ESPN provides goal-by-goal analysis of the Portuguese superstar's quest.
- Tom Weller/picture alliance via Getty Images
Messi tracker: Goals, assists, key moments in 2026
ESPN provides game-by-game analysis of Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami and Argentina.
