Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said his side had revived the spirit of their 2010 World ​Cup triumph after a commanding 2-0 win over France on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) sent them into ‌the final and left them one victory from a second ​global title.

Spain, who won their first World Cup 16 years ⁠ago, neutralised a France attack that had scored 16 goals before the semi-final and had been regarded as one of the tournament’s most dangerous. France did not ‌manage a shot on target until after the 80-minute mark.

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“The message was that we were up against one of the best ‌teams in the world, but that they were up against the ‌best ⁠team in the world,” De la Fuente told a press ⁠conference.

“These players show commitment, solidarity and talent. They make the difficult look easy. They have talent and the right attitude towards life and sport. I see a happy dressing room and ​a nation behind us. We’ve ‌recaptured the spirit of 2010. The character of this team is evident in the fact that those who didn’t play have stayed behind to train after the match,” he said.

De la Fuente praised a squad he said ‌had been built on humility, shared purpose and the absence of ​egos, saying Spain’s strength came from everyone moving in the same direction.

“I believe the most important thing is knowing how ⁠to choose your travelling companions. If you make the wrong choice of travelling companions, you could end up with a problem,” he added.

“We know that ‌this team — not just the players, but everyone who makes up the squad — works towards a common goal, with the same enthusiasm, and we are ordinary, generous people who seek the common good before our own individual interests,” De la Fuente said.

Spain, who won Euro 2024, has now equalled Italy’s record of 37 consecutive unbeaten matches, but De la Fuente said his players still had ‌room to grow.

“This team never ceases to amaze me. The scope for improvement is ​endless,” he said. “It was a labour of love, a process. It was about reaching the crucial moment in the best possible ⁠shape.”

De la Fuente said he would like to face Argentina in the final ⁠because of his close friendship with manager Lionel Scaloni, while also praising England and describing the other semi-final as a match ‌that “could easily be the World Cup final”.

“I don’t believe in the idea that finals are there to be won. They’re there to be ​enjoyed,” he said. “What’s to come could be the icing on the cake.”

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup Round of 16 on Saturday (July 4, 2026) to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once.

It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022.

Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute.

Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute.

Soufiane Rahimi added another goal in the final minute of stoppage time.

Morocco advances to face the winner of Saturday’s Paraguay-France match on Thursday at Boston Stadium.

The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round with a 1-0 victory over South Africa to reach Saturday’s match.

One of the biggest folk heroes of this World Cup, Merlín the duck arrived outside Mexico City’s stadium on Wednesday to great fanfare — but was ultimately told he could not remain for Mexico’s match against the Czech Republic.

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After winning hearts across social media, supporters had launched an effort urging organizers to allow the beloved bird to attend the match alongside his family. In less than two weeks, Merlín went from waddling through the streets of Mexico City during Mexico’s opening victory to visiting the presidential palace. But on Wednesday, his proverbial flight was cut short.

Merlín was granted access to the Azteca Stadium grounds to film a segment with Televisa, one of Latin America’s largest television networks. Under strict security protocols, Merlín travelled comfortably inside a transport crate, accompanied by owner Carla Gómez and her son Cristian, as curious fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the tournament’s most unexpected star. However, he could not remain for the match, as FIFA regulations prohibit animals from entering venues in order to safeguard their well-being.

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A FIFA tournament spokesperson confirmed Merlín was permitted to enter the perimeter but not the stadium, and did not offer further comment.

“These last few days have been crazy, we’ll never stop being grateful for what we’ve experienced,” Gómez told The Associated Press. “Everyone is truly amazed by Merlín.”

Since his first appearance, Merlín has grown into a social media phenomenon and an international celebrity. Wearing a green Mexico jersey and proudly accompanying his family as they sell drinks throughout the city, the 2-year-old duck has become a familiar sight in the capital. Along the way, he has participated in interviews, visited television studios, mingled with supporters at the fan fest in Mexico City’s Zócalo, and even paid a visit to Netflix.

“He’s become our unofficial mascot for Mexico and the World Cup,” said Daniel Krauze, a fan outside the stadium who sported a duck hat. “I feel proud to wear Merlín the duck.”

Merlín has also found himself at the center of a trademark dispute, when at least two applications before Gómez’s sought the rights to his name for exclusive commercial use. The registration was ultimately granted to Gómez.

Now, following hundreds of requests from fans, the family will finally be able to watch Mexico’s national team live. Gómez described the occasion as a “very powerful emotion.”

And although the duck darling will not be cheering from the stands, she is convinced that Mexico’s most famous feathered supporter will still be bringing luck to El Tri: “Merlín is a lucky charm, and I know that, with him, the Mexican national team will win again today.”