local
Mikel Merino stars again as Spain edges Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals
By Greg Beacham, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 10, 2026
· 3 min read
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament favorite France in the s...
Key takeaway Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing after Lammens spilled a rebound of Pau Cubarsí's long shot.
Why this matters in The Piney Point
The World Cup semifinal match between Spain and France, set to take place in the Dallas area, will undoubtedly draw the attention of local soccer fans in Piney Point Village . As Spain advances to the semifinals for the first time since 2010, residents in the Houston area will have a unique opportunity to witness high-level international soccer. The presence of top-tier teams in the region will likely boost interest in local soccer programs and may inspire young players in Piney Point Village to follow in the footsteps of stars like Mikel Merino. With the match taking place nearby, fans from Piney Point Village can easily attend the game, creating a potential surge in local excitement and community engagement around the sport. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how the local community responds to the presence of international soccer in their backyard.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Piney Point surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 10, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday.Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament favorite France in the s...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 10, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Piney Point readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Greg Beacham, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Piney Point selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Piney Point, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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