Overview
- France advanced to the semifinals after a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco with Kylian Mbappé curling home the opener and Ousmane Dembélé adding a second to seal the victory.
- Spain edged Belgium 2-1 when substitute Mikel Merino pounced on a spilled shot to score an 88th-minute winner after Thibaut Courtois left injured and replacement Senne Lammens failed to hold a long-range effort.
- The final two quarterfinals — England v Norway and Argentina v Switzerland — will decide the other semifinalists in matches scheduled for Saturday.
- Team availability and fitness are shaping outcomes: England will be without Jarell Quansah because of a two-game ban while Norway’s Erling Haaland has seven goals and remains a major scoring threat.
- The expanded 48-team format and frequent use of VAR and new match data have amplified volatility in the knockout rounds, making depth, substitutions and officiating reviews decisive factors moving into the semis.