Spain Advances to Semifinals Behind Merino’s Historic Late Heroics

Fox Corporation continues to broadcast high-stakes drama from the 2026 World Cup, as Spain advanced to the semifinals following a late victory over Belgium on Friday, July 10. The match extended Spain’s tournament run, providing significant content for broadcasters holding media rights.

The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when substitute Mikel Merino scored the game-winning goal. This marks the second consecutive knockout match where Merino, entering as a late substitute, has netted the winner. Previously, he scored in stoppage time against Portugal in the round of 16. With these performances, Merino has become the first substitute in World Cup history to score winning goals in two separate knockout stage matches.

Efficiency has defined Merino’s tournament impact. He scored the winner against Portugal after coming on in the 85th minute and replicated the feat against Belgium two minutes after entering the pitch in the 86th minute. In total, he has scored two decisive goals in just eight minutes of play.

Teammate Nico Williams praised the midfielder’s contributions, noting the extraordinary nature of his performance whether starting or coming off the bench. Merino attributed his success to positioning and alertness, specifically looking for loose balls in the box. The goal itself materialized after a long-range shot by defender Pau Cubarsí was mishandled by Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, allowing Merino to capitalize on the rebound.

As the tournament progresses, broadcasters like Fox Corporation are likely to see sustained viewer interest. The company’s stock was up 2.51% today, trading at $54.12 with a market capitalization of approximately $23.46 billion. As a major player in the Communication Services and Entertainment sector, the network’s coverage of these elimination rounds remains a key component of its sports programming strategy.

What to watch

• Spain’s semifinal matchup date and time.
• Viewership ratings for the Belgium-Spain quarterfinal.

Source: original release