The final four is set. Spain dismantled a jittery France 3-1 in the early quarter final, and Norway completed one of the great runs in modern World Cup memory with a 2-1 extra-time win over host nation Mexico. Álvaro Morata scored, Pedri conducted, and Erling Haaland finally got the moment he came here for. Semifinals kick off Tuesday.
Spain 3-1 France · SoFi Stadium
France came in as the storied side and left as the beaten one. Spain did what Spain has done all tournament: kept the ball for long stretches, waited for the opposition midfield to disorganise itself, then found the killer pass. Pedri had 118 touches by the hour mark. Rodri sat behind him and put out fires. When France did press, Spain simply passed through it — three, four, five touches at a time — because that is what this squad was built to do.
The opener came from a Lamine Yamal cutback that Álvaro Morata finished at the back post. France equalised through a Kylian Mbappé run down the left channel that ended with a low finish across goal, the sort of individual moment that would have flipped the game if the shape had held. It didn't. Spain restored the lead ten minutes later, this time from a set piece, and Nico Williams sealed it in the 78th minute after a counter that started in his own box.
Didier Deschamps will get the questions about the midfield balance, the substitution timing, and whether Aurélien Tchouaméni can play a knockout tie without picking up a caution in the first quarter of an hour. He can't always. Not tonight.
Norway 2-1 Mexico (aet) · Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
This was the match nobody predicted and everybody will remember. Mexico, playing at home in front of a stadium that had spent 90 minutes screaming, took the lead just before half-time through a Raúl Jiménez header from a Luis Chávez corner. It stood for 46 minutes. Every Mexican in the ground could taste a semifinal.
Then Norway did what Norway has done to every big team it has faced this tournament. Erling Haaland came alive. Not slowly. All at once. He drifted deeper, started receiving the ball with his back to goal, and in the 87th minute won a header at the far post from a Martin Ødegaard free kick to make it 1-1. In extra time he did it all himself: latched onto a long ball from Kristoffer Ajer, held off two centre-backs, and finished across the goalkeeper. It was the goal a team that had scored eight tournament goals coming in had been building toward for a month.
Mexico's tournament ends in the last eight after a group-stage topping, a knockout run, and a home crowd that turned every match into an event. It ends the same way most host runs do: one heart- breaking match short of the final week.
The semifinal bracket
What's next, in order:
- Semifinal 1 · Tuesday July 14 · AT&T Stadium, Arlington: England vs Netherlands. The winner from Day 1 recap gets its chance in front of the Dallas crowd.
- Semifinal 2 · Wednesday July 15 · Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta: Spain vs Norway. La Roja's midfield against Norway's counter — the tactical clash of the round.
- Third-place playoff · Saturday July 18 · Miami: The two losing semifinalists.
- Final · Sunday July 19 · MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford: Two teams left standing lift the trophy at 3 pm ET.
Three quick reads from Day 2
Spain is now the favourite. Book everything — the Spain semifinal, the way France was outclassed in midfield, the depth on the bench. This side is playing the best football of any team left in the tournament and the possession numbers are absurd. There is a real argument that Spain has not been genuinely tested yet.
Norway has a puncher's chance. Ødegaard is the most under-rated tournament midfielder in the last four. Haaland is about to face a Spain back line that has been solid but not spectacular. And Norway will camp behind the ball and hit on the break — a plan Spain has occasionally struggled to solve. Do not write this semifinal off.
Mexico did the host nation proud. The Estadio Azteca opener, a group-stage clinch, a Round of 32 win, and a quarter final that went to extra time. Javier Aguirre's side leaves the tournament with more shine than it arrived with.
FAQ
Who scored for Spain? Álvaro Morata (32'), Dani Olmo (63' set piece), and Nico Williams (78'). Mbappé equalised for France in the 41st before Olmo restored the lead.
Was there VAR drama? Yes — a France penalty appeal in the 55th minute was checked and waved away. Marginal call. Both managers agreed after the match it was correct.
When are the semifinal kickoff times? Semifinal 1 (England vs Netherlands) kicks off Tuesday July 14 at 9 pm CET / 3 pm ET in Arlington. Semifinal 2 (Spain vs Norway) is Wednesday July 15 at the same slot, 3 pm ET in Atlanta.
Where can I follow the semifinals live? Live scores and lineup updates on Scorelisto's soccer page. Full previews on the Scorelisto blog before each match.