Spain back in World Cup semi-finals for first time in 16 years | OneFootball

Spain have returned to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 16 years, only the second traditional semi-final in their history and the third time they have ranked among the last four. They will face France next.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, this surge also carries a sense of payback, four decades after Belgium ended Spain’s hopes on penalties. The quarter-final against Belgium was staged at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 10 July 2026.

Spain’s first top-four finish came in 1950 in Brazil, when the tournament concluded with a final group. They drew with eventual champions Uruguay, lost 6-1 to Brazil, then fell 3-1 to Sweden, finishing fourth.

Near-misses followed. In Mexico 1986 they were beaten by Belgium on penalties, while in United States 1994 and in Korea and Japan 2002 they missed the semi-finals against Italy and South Korea respectively.

Sixty years later, in 2010, Spain lifted their first star in Johannesburg. A vital quarter-final saw Casillas save a penalty from Cardoso before Villa struck his fifth goal, setting up a semi-final with Germany that Puyol settled with a header from a corner.

France now await, and Spain aim to keep a 100% semi-final record by echoing 2010. They hope to deliver another big result and continue enlarging their story.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo