OptaJohan

1 - Spain are the first ever European nation to win eight consecutive knockout stage matches at major tournaments (World Cup/EURO). Know-how.

7/8 - Among European nations to contest at least two, Spain have the best progression rate in major tournament semi-final ties (World Cup/EURO), progressing from seven of their eight (88%). Dominance.

11 - Tonight will be the 11th time Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé have been on opposite sides in a match for club and country - Yamal has won eight of those 10 games. Showdown.

44 - Marcos Leanardo scored 44 goals for Al Hilal in all competitions since the start of the 2024-25 campaign, with just four Saudi Pro League players doing better over that period. Samba.

3 - This will be the third FIFA World Cup in which all four semi-finalists are former winners (1990, 1970). Pedigree.

2+ - Jude Bellingham is the first player to score 2+ goals in consecutive FIFA World Cup knockout stage games at the same tournament since Diego Maradona in 1986. Home.

0.27 - England didn't have any shots on target in the second half against Norway. The combined 0.27 xG was the lowest in any second half at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far. Muted.

2 - Mikel Merino is the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout stage matches as a substitute. Dependable.

It took 5+ matches, but here are the instructions for scoring on Spain in the 2026 World Cup:

3 - Charles De Ketelaere has scored as many goals at the FIFA World Cup 2026 (3) as he did in his 31 matches for Atalanta in the Serie A 2025-26 (3). Podium.

6 - Lamine Yamal is making his sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, the outright most by a player aged 18 or younger in the competition. Stardom.

5.3% - Rudi Garcia will manage the @BelRedDevils for the 20th time tonight - the Frenchman is the head coach with the lowest loss percentage (5.3%) and the most goals scored per game (3.1) among all Belgium managers with more than one game. Exquisite.

2 - There's only been four occasions in the last 60 years a player has scored, assisted and missed a penalty in a World Cup match - two have been in the last three days... 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi vs Egypt 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé vs Morocco Amends.

5 - France in 2026 are the first team to have two players score 5+ goals in a single World Cup since Brazil in 2002. 🇧🇷 Ronaldo (8) & Rivaldo (5) 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé (8) & Ousmane Dembélé (5) Duos.

10 - 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe has registered 10 goal involvements in each of his last two FIFA World Cups - he's only the only player on record since 1966 to achieve this in two different tournaments. 8 goals, 2 assists in 2022 8 goals, 2 assists in 2026 Symmetry.

1.87 - France's xG of 1.87 was the most by a team who've failed to score in the first half of a 2026 World Cup match. Wasteful.

4 - Yassine Bounou has saved four World Cup penalties, the joint most by a goalkeeper since 1966 (incl. shoot-outs). King.

2 - Including shoot-outs, 🇲🇦 Yassine Bounou has only been beaten by two out of nine penalties he's faced at the World Cup (saved four, three missed the target). Intimidating.

18 - Aged 18 years and 280 days, 🇲🇦 Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi is the second-youngest player to play in a FIFA World Cup quarter-final. The youngest is Pelé in 1958 for 🇧🇷 Brazil vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales (17 years, 239 days). Footsteps.

20 - At 27 years and 201 days, 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé is the youngest player to reach 20 appearances at the FIFA World Cup, breaking 🇵🇱 Wladislaw Zmuda's record (28 years, 34 days). Sprightly.