Spain has reached the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup after 16 years, as it looks to continue its bid for the second title, in Mexico, Canada and the United States of America.
La Roja Furia, having won the European Championship and reached the UEFA Nations League final, entered the 2026 World Cup as one of the title favourites.
And now, it faces France for a spot in the World Cup final – a repeat fixture of the EURO 2024 semifinal, where Spain had the last laugh. Ahead of France vs Spain, Sportstar looks at how Spain reached the semifinal.
Cape Verde announced itself on the World Cup stage with a stunning 0-0 draw against Spain, frustrating the European champion, which dominated possession and had 27 goal attempts but could find no way past 40-year-old ‘keeper Vozinha.
The African side built a blue-shirted barricade in front of Vozinha and dared Spain, which dominated almost everything in the Group H draw except the scoreline, to find a way through. Spain had almost 75 per cent possession, but Cape Verde’s first match at a World Cup became a heroic exercise in resistance, discipline and occasional survival.
At the final whistle, Vozinha was named Player of the Match and left the pitch in tears after a performance that turned him into the face of Cape Verde’s historic night.
Inspired by Lamine Yamal, Spain strolled to a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Group H on Sunday, where Mikel Oyarzabal restored his reputation with two goals and Luis de la Fuente’s side found its groove after an underwhelming World Cup opener.
Yamal opened the scoring in the 10th minute and Oyarzabal, who failed to register a touch in the opening half hour in Monday’s scoreless draw with Cape Verde, scored twice in quick succession as Spain had the game wrapped up by half-time.
An own goal shortly after the interval failed to reopen the floodgates, as Spain used the opportunity to make changes and rest their scorers.
Spain edged Uruguay 1-0 on Friday to top Group H and reach the knockout stage of the World Cup, with Alex Baena’s first-half strike enough to settle a tense, physical contest and leave Marcelo Bielsa’s side out of the tournament.
Baena broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute when he found space near the edge of the area and drove in a powerful effort that veteran goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to hold, the ball slipping from his grasp and trickling into the net.
It was a costly mistake from Muslera, who Bielsa said decided to come off at half-time. The goal was scored with Manuel Ugarte and Yamal down injured as play continued, but Baena kept his focus, and Spain took full advantage.
Spain put its World Cup rival on notice with a dominant 3-0 win over Austria, thanks to a Mikel Oyarzabal double and another commanding defensive display to reach the last 16.
Spain, which arrived at the tournament among the favourites and has yet to concede a goal, made a slow start with a draw against Cape Verde, but Austria had no answer to its opponent’s relentless attack and impenetrable back line on a sunny day in Southern California.
While Spain’s attack, especially teenage forward Yamal, gets most of the attention, its defence continues to excel. It did not allow a shot on target on Thursday, the first team to achieve that feat in a World Cup knockout match since Germany in the 2014 final against Argentina.
Substitute Mikel Merino broke through a stubborn Portugal defence in the 91st minute to earn his side a 1-0 win to take the former champion into the quarterfinals and bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.
The midfielder scored six minutes after coming off the bench in the Iberian Derby at Dallas Stadium to move the European champion into the last eight, prevailing where his teammates had been frustrated by a determined Portuguese backline.
Spain needed the quick-thinking Merino to unlock a Portugal defence that had frustrated De la Fuente’s side throughout a second half dominated by the 2010 title winner. Introduced from the bench for Dani Olmo, it was Merino who started and finished the move that clinched victory.
Merino took centre-stage again with a late winner after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold onto the ball as Spain claimed a 2-1 win over its injury-hit opponent and set up a World Cup semifinal clash with France.
After the teams went in level at 1-1 following the first half, Spain eventually prevailed when Belgian back-up ‘keeper Lammens, who came on in the second period for the injured Thibaut Courtois, spilt Pau Cubarsi’s low strike.
The ball bounced in front of Lammens, giving Merino just enough time to fire home as the sold-out crowd largely backing Spain erupted on a sweltering day at Los Angeles Stadium.
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Published on Jul 14, 2026