# Mikel Oyarzabal and Romelu Lukaku set to light up Spain vs Belgium World Cup quarterfinal

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-10 19:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Spain advances to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium.

## Intelligence Brief
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in a World Cup quarterfinal match, securing a place in the semi-finals. The victory sets up a forthcoming match against France. Coverage notes that Mikel Merino played a significant role, with records being set by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi.


Reports from ABC News, the BBC, and ESPN highlight the match outcome and individual player contributions. ESPN identifies historical milestones for Merino, alongside a comparison between Yamal and Cubarsi to past players Pele and Altafini. CNN and Al Jazeera provided live coverage of the proceedings.


Attention now shifts to the semi-final stage. Coverage indicates that Spain is scheduled to compete against France. Analysis regarding team favorites remains ongoing according to the BBC.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN | FIFA World Cup 2026 stats: Merino makes World Cup history; Yamal-Cubarsi first since Pele-Altafini | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8AFBVV95cUxPNGszNi1UR1EybzhKM0hPVmpVSWxsYjk3RExNLU40SXl6eWhxZ2VxdGlIYVNROVBWM2VFNjNLcGRPQno1NUUtSDhlQVpENS1rUXFLak1WcE54akJwaklOOXVnWVNUZ0EyNjdHNnVFeHplZHhHcWdIUkFFYVBZQzJ4LWdoVzVENldNRlNtU25KQUE5MDc3Z2NFal9NXzNtelF5VGFhSjZWLU16UjRfRVRpTFhvZHNrNXYtY2ZFT0xGX0V4NHBtd1BCUmlfTjRTMm96ZERWOHJMX2NBbVAxWVVmMHIzdU9abDJaa0RqQlpzNVQ?oc=5) |
| ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos | Mikel Merino stars again as Spain edges Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxQdXMxa01MNVlhTExrWm94Z3NTN0I1WmNvYnRBZE1JdXpCM2xWWC00RzhkeEFYTHAtaTZGc1YwbHBnaFFEd2dac0ZwVDBvVFZCT2plM08xcmxIUzF0V2JESUZFRzN1bHEyNVZnVEZmUktBT3doRHowR1NDeGhmYlJsQTRHd3lIZGZwU3RQQlJJMVl5X0ZWUDdkS1cyVko3bGvSAaQBQVVfeXFMT2JNci1qNFRCSkVxN291ZWFjdkg4b3F1dTJVeFRsbFhsRUU2N3BtNDlmUGdETDEyczRXdFJVTDVUc0N3S1NVT3p4bDBTb1FRZkp3QW1QWmgwd29qRGhWR0NFU0F4LXRhU3VSYzU5RVVOSXMtTVlXZUVaemQwaTc0OFR1aWY2Uy1aMy01cTgtN0lmcC1JZjNsUXJ3RThfOS15Q29ZZG0?oc=5) |
| Cartilage Free Captain | World Cup: Day 30 recap and England-Norway open thread | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxQRENIR3RqdTZIbTdRcWtBY280ZTV0T0JJR05uVkNweXpNbVMxNjVLM295a1p5b2NjTzFQWjFfN3NlSkR3MGNjSnBzdFVUR19lQmZWVm9xYk0yNndjbld2THpFY2xSeWpxazNZMU5ORVlRNWdabEVXV0V0X05jTm5WNzNISnBIYXRkcHV4XzllTlhEaWNpV1VuRFpCZ0FZYUwyY1RMNkFkVTRheVF2dHc?oc=5) |
| Arsenal.com | Merino the hero again for Spain - International - News | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYkFVX3lxTE03R19lM1l0UTY5U0h5SEkyVU51Zmk5N2s3MFo1SVVVX1Fzc25RWUtfSEkxZjNScGNyeS1ydWZaVVlWaEU3NG5fRTFqMWlpMUZJVWU2SjFiMmc2cGZIWnZOcUdn?oc=5) |
| BBC | World Cup 2026: Spain set-up France semi-final tie by beating Belgium, but who will be favourites? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYkFVX3lxTFBFNkxKd1Ixc1VYMzJnekR1TWZjMkNpVlI1TzJkMWpYT2h0bVVLYkk1QURKdWFnYmtQeE9mWlpJWDVReVczUjlQNFpwRk5fRmNYblROV0MyMVpxQlduUG9iVjdR?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Spain v Belgium: World Cup 2026 quarter-final – live | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPVXR2OE1teTlpQmdwV3dBRFVBTWpzaGJjbDU4Q19lWVpDbHd6N1VpcGwwNWY1TmxUQ2ZlNTVISFo2UnMyMnhkMl9QZlJqdk1kUDM2NmhJVHhvWHl2UFhJTjNmZjZrel84OV9wS2R0M2djY3F5Z0FMYy1sTExRTldubWdTNFZLRnZJR2RKV3RyYXhhWTNEQ3dDOF92MFpYRDlETTUwcEV3?oc=5) |
| Al Jazeera | Spain vs Belgium LIVE: FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxOUHdDdWtSQ3NUbDh2S3g5QlhmRFkwRndhVF9nNlZkSHFuNXRFaFBjRlY1Snd6SFlQTkVFSk5aTUpqNjhiVjF0ZTlwcFVaOTZpMExoQTdZM1BMZ0ZHLThwTU5lSTIwLTRfNmg3c3p4V0FZTWRCZ1RxSW9kX0hQOG1vSWtIWGRrbFpUVFduTU5fYldZOUxmVlI2anc5Zjk2d0FlQWhEdlViUlJZUdIBrwFBVV95cUxPV2FIa1V1OU9jQjZfZ1dQY0QzUHVxWTkyb3Z3OXhVVUtVOFdOekZkTXNsQ0lSOGVTdjNZN2VkQ0M3STVyMUlEcHBvRHRxNXdfZl84b1BTLWJFQ2FWbXFQVlI1Y2o2RlhuVFRWQUx6US0tUjRZUGZPMWdEV3cwSzZvMlJ4dHBBblpLSm5MSU1WR1dkR0h0bTJnaTliQ3l0ZV9sZ2FXLUxWZFB) |
| FOX Sports | Spain vs. Belgium Live Updates, Score: Kevin De Bruyne To Start, Pedri On Bench | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNRVFwM3ZTS3c5VGwxM1gySExQUmJjd2k3Q3FEN1c2S2ZMUWU1OTNUdkE2cVBmY3RkTFZNQ0wwd1hrQ1VCWWZWUHBPTFNJZWltMlRlRW9vX1JFU1A3aHNDLXlHcXFPTVloZm13dEJWcFZzZFRXbEZHb2c3Y2phcE1La05DV0N1RHJCRTZlLWg2Tks0ZnNLZDNKLWVzNVV4SkVDeUQ4Rmh2clAwUQ?oc=5) |
| CNN | Spain and Belgium will face off in World Cup quarterfinal. The winner gets to face mighty France | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxOQ2loRngzZmluT0FnM3ZGLUh1cUxPQ1dkODZkUjktZmx3d3NGSElyTzNlUFp1SzVZeUZRanVtQ0luMGM3dHhETlBta2phWWFYREI0aHRjRXJDWWN0Zk1zbUktUDUwNDBzb0RnVFloMVRhdTRrUUxDemRUWVhvdDA1OTJn?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Norway vs England mega-preview: Predictions, form guide, key players and more - The Athletic | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxQRXJtUEpHUjJ2aEN3OGx5Z2JPUlVBcjBWRmFHdm9pMFZnVWVhUmVWdmR1R0NzRUFnNkM5cHROLUo4VnlWLXlDd0dGVzJTaF9QYmt4WDRDVE9Md3RKcDVoUHJWREFsdGwyd3RPNUtoNVp1ekthYzNPWThJS1lxVTNTSVp5Sy1VZVgzLV9EUy15dnFfbnNBeDlsU1BWbzFyNkxsQ29yQkFYc1FDOHM?oc=5) |
| Al Jazeera | Kane vs Haaland in England vs Norway World Cup quarterfinal of strikers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPcHpfdi11U3RwNFJ4d0Jmdk1GSXNOdzhFOVRRVnRwNW9PY1BVM09QNy1saHFua3pkaXZEUjFxZUw4Yy1BQlhkblRkbDFYbGw5bmtQYTNuenJ4czFDdVVjb015ak1kWXNqRzh0V295LU5YMUt2MVFMQU5QWGVtMW9FRXg5bVBjV2UwSFZJSzRZOF9RUl9aUmc2d2lBanJTUklFbW14UlBjOTY1SDNKaHF4Tzh3R1bSAboBQVVfeXFMT1VpMGR5T3d4RTdPX3ZGR19IUWQ0eThCYXBQZWdrdGZmcVg3bUFwd2czMEZ3cElBT3IzRDRkX0RHZ1VJRUFZdjBVLUZ0d1lpQXdlUmpQQjdtbmJNZE91QTdxNEhoU2dUQmY0UWxhTy1waUkwc2p2eXRQR3BwdFNEMXloTC02REtKZVlNaG16MlVyZlNqQURBVG1LRi0wYTB) |
| ESPN | Harry Kane says Erling Haaland 'completely different player' than me | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxNd3ZDOXBVWkY5U1FfRmdnTjNXNlYzTUNKeDRmS1Vydjc5WWZDUDFzcnpSWE9HLVBrTklPUFNVcjNydGZaYXQyV2FqV1oyVlJVZ2dtUmxtWTRPQ1VmbHU3N0V6OVphWjV4SmhEMnJtVktkTF9Zc0hWenptdm03OXZZMjYxQjJ0TkFVUXA0dG94Z3RaVUNYMHNQdFVCaFVGU0ZDajRNV2pVNA?oc=5) |
| FanDuel | Norway vs England Prediction, Picks, Lineups, Odds & Best Bets Tomorrow World Cup | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxQNjBQelEwVFpKaEtCbmRCTk9lakFIVWRJVmZjOFJ6MW5iVTJPMG1WZUg4Vjh1cGU3aTU2RzlLZWYzaXVhVHNVT0h3YjE0ZHJZTjFQRlUwMDhLM0FUOHVyT2NZY0NYbU9GS1lwd0JIdkFEYnozaE9ZZ0JfU2hzc3Q2V0JhaFBIb015UGVaX09GcGtmdGMtWWtuaUpSWlpPeTVrOTJVeDJZenNXWVdaOW1Fa3NpOA?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-10/mikel-oyarzabal-and-romelu-lukaku-set-to-light-up-spain-vs-belgium-world-cup*