Mikel Merino's goal sends Spain to World Cup semifinals

Spain has secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup semifinals following a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Belgium in the quarterfinals. Midfielder Mikel Merino, who scored the decisive goal in the match held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, reflected on the team's performance and their drive to reach the final four for the second time in their history.

"It was a back-and-forth game. We couldn't expect anything less than two elite teams with a lot of hunger and desire against France," Merino stated in post-match comments to TVE, looking ahead to the upcoming semifinal clash on July 14 in Dallas.

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It was a back-and-forth game. We couldn't expect anything less than two elite teams with a lot of hunger and desire against France.

Merino, who plays for Arsenal, expressed his elation: "How could I be... Happy. I still can't believe it. I thought it wasn't going to happen for me until I don't know when. It seems that coincidences don't exist, and if you are prepared, it happens again. Happy and delighted."

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How could I be... Happy. I still can't believe it. I thought it wasn't going to happen for me until I don't know when. It seems that coincidences don't exist, and if you are prepared, it happens again. Happy and delighted.

Reflecting on the possibility of winning the entire tournament, Merino remained cautiously optimistic. "I doubt it will happen. I hope so. We'll see what happens. Being two games away from a World Cup championship is a dream come true, and I hope we can achieve it."

Spain's victory sets up a challenging semifinal against France, as they continue their quest for World Cup glory.

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I doubt it will happen. I hope so. We'll see what happens. Being two games away from a World Cup championship is a dream come true, and I hope we can achieve it.