Hello and welcome to Daily Mail Sport’s World Cup Breakfast from day 31 at the tournament – your one-stop shop for everything you’ve missed overnight in North America.
For all the latest news, viral moments and what to look out for, stay right here.
YESTERDAY’S ACTION
Spain 2-1 Belgium
Spain were gifted a spot in the World Cup semi-finals when Belgium’s No 2 goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a costly error at the feet of matchwinner Mikel Merino.
Lammens was sent on when No 1 Courtois left the pitch in tears after picking up an injury in his left quad.
It was the first time at this tournament that Lammens was seeing action and it ended in disaster when he spilled the ball at the feet of Merino who, just as he did in the last round against Portugal, came off the bench to win it for Luis De La Fuente’s side.
Spain had started stronger and went ahead through Fabian Ruiz, starting ahead of Pedri in a shock alteration to the starting XI.
But Belgium did successfully breach Spain’s goal – the only team at this tournament to do so – when Charles De Ketelaere nodded in before half-time.
In the end there will be regrets from Belgium that they were unable to put away Spain, who face France in Dallas on Tuesday, when they looked to be toiling.
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Agony for Belgium and Senne Lammens after the goalkeeper’s error handed Spain victory
Mikel Merino came off the bench to win it for Spain, just as he had done against Portugal
VIEW FROM THE GROUND
At an exhibition in the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, this leapt out – an image of the ‘Negro Motorist Green Book’, published between 1938 and 1966 by a US postal service worker, who saw a need for a publication to guide black drivers to places of safety and away from danger, during the violent, racially-segregated Jim Crow era.
The inclusion of the image in an installation by the artist Derrick Adams was a reminder of the deeply embedded racism and racial violence which this nation has lived with. But also a reminder of the awareness of, depiction of and fight against racism which I’ve seen in almost every gallery I’ve visited.
No-one would say, just six years after the death of George Floyd, that the decades of struggle for racial equality have expunged it from the US.
But I would venture to say – even though generalisations are dangerous – that people of colour and race living side by side is more normalised in the US than in vast areas of Britain and Europe.
The prospect of young black sportsmen and women being subjected to casual racial hate during and after a game, or a player having to lead a protest against discrimination, as Vinicius Jr did in Lisbon five months ago, do seem more remote here.
IAN HERBERT
TEAM OF THE DAY
Thanks as always to Sofascore for the graphic.
CELEBRITY WATCH
Just a short hop, skip, and jump from Hollywood, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium was always going to bring out the A-List celebrities for Spain versus Belgium.
Actors Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz were among the famous faces, while Manchester City fan and Oasis singer Noel Gallagher sat a few seats down.
Former Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand went along – and got to greet players on the touchline – while singer Tate McRae was afforded the privilege of delivering the match ball in the moments prior to kick-off.
Expect the France versus Spain semi-final in Dallas to be the hottest ticket in town for celebrities.
Penelope Cruz (left) and Brad Pitt (right) were among a star-studded crowd in Los Angeles
Oasis star Noel Gallagher also took in the Spain versus Belgium match at SoFi Stadium in, too
LA pulled out all the stops with singer Tate McRae delivering the match ball prior to kick-off
Ex-England star Rio Ferdinand went along and was allowed to greet the players on the sideline
VIRAL MOMENT OF THE DAY
Forget the A-List celebrities… the star of the show in Los Angeles was Lamine Yamal’s half-brother, Keyne.
The boisterous youngster is never far away whenever Yamal is playing, no matter where it is in the world, and each and every time he’s in the stands he seems to go viral.
Friday night in Los Angeles was no different as Keyne went wild celebrating Spain’s winning goal as his older brother could only chuckle when he spotted him on the big screen.
Keyne was spotted pulling all sorts of faces, having the time of his life.
While Yamal may not have lit up the World Cup on the pitch, his half-brother certainly has off it.
Lamine Yamal’s brother Keyne stole the show with his wild celebrations as Spain progressed
Yamal could only chuckle when he noticed his younger brother’s antics on the big screen
PHOTO OF THE DAY
For all the talk of an English takeover in Miami, the Norway fans forming a giant conga line to parade through the streets in Florida was quite the sight.
On and off the pitch, Norway have been a monumental asset to this tournament.
Norway fans delighted locals in Miami when they embarked on a giant conga through the street
STAT OF THE DAY
62 – Rodri has made 62 line-breaking passes in the final third at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the most in a single edition since Germany’s Toni Kroos in 2014 (also 62).
THREE THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR TODAY
1) Is Rice fit to start?
It has been far from straightforward for Declan Rice to prepare for this eagerly-anticipated quarter-final against Norway.
Illness saw him separated from the rest of Thomas Tuchel’s group on Thursday, before he was able to return to the training group on Friday.
The Arsenal man has had to contend with a muscular problem all tournament and it remains to be seen if illness will take its toll.
He’s one of Tuchel’s most important lieutenants and so it is imperative for England – not least given the tournament-ending injury to Jordan Henderson – that Rice is ready to go.
Declan Rice (right) has been dealing with illness since England defeated Mexico in the last-16
2) Kane v Haaland
The greatest ticker-seller in town is the heavyweight match-up in attack in Miami.
Not that Norway boss Stale Solbakken agrees.
‘It’s Norway v England,’ he said on Friday.
‘But it’s not a secret that Harry Kane is the No 1 matchwinner for England and Erling is the No 1 matchwinner for us.’
The truth is, these are arguably the best two centre forwards on the planet and with both spearheading their sides, as well as gunning for the golden boot, pressure is at an absolute max and millions will be dialled in to see which superstar steps into the spotlight to deliver some Miami magic.
Talk about appointment television.
3) Can Argentina put in a 90-minute performance?
If you were an Argentina fan, on the one hand you’d be worried about how Lionel Scaloni’s side have just about scraped through last-32 and last-16 ties against Cape Verde and Egypt to narrowly avoid massive upsets.
But if you were a glass half-full sort of fan, you’d point to both matches as evidence that this team just know how to win after lifting successive Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, along with the 2022 World Cup.
They are certainly a moments side though, with the team centred around the ageless Lionel Messi, who tops the scoring charts at this tournament alongside Kylian Mbappe on eight goals.
But given Argentina’s weaknesses have been exposed by two of the less-fancied World Cup sides, they need a swift improvement against an impressive Switzerland outfit if they are to progress to the semi-finals.
It promises to be an intriguing clash in Kansas City and Scaloni’s side must be on it from the first whistle.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are in the quarter-finals but they have had a couple of big scares
TODAY’S GAME
England v Norway (10pm, Miami, ITV)
The pick of the quarter-finals comes in Miami as Thomas Tuchel and England look to slay the striking beast that is Erling Haaland.
England are expected to be backed by around 30,000 in Miami and after having a heavily partisan crowd work against them in Mexico City, FA sources hope Miami turns into something of a home crowd to get them into the final four.
Daily Mail Sport prediction: England win
Argentina v Switzerland (2am Sunday, Kansas City, ITV)
The defending World Cup champions gave themselves quite a fright in the last round against Egypt.
But having based themselves in Kansas City for this tournament, this one will feel like a home game and typically Argentina usually only throw one big wobble in per tournament – just ask Saudi Arabia.
Daily Mail Sport prediction: Argentina win
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