Mikel Oyarzabal and the 2026 World Cup: A Super Simple Guide

Published July 14, 2026, 3:01 p.m. ET

What’s Going On at the 2026 World Cup?

Imagine a giant soccer party where countries from all over the world send their best players to kick a ball into a net. That’s the World Cup! In 2026, everyone is watching a Spanish teenager named Lamine Yamal. He is like a magic kid who broke many records for his country (Spain) and his club team FC Barcelona.

But there’s another Spanish player helping the team called La Roja (that’s just a nickname for Spain’s team, meaning “the red” because of their shirts). His name is Mikel Oyarzabal.

Here are the simple facts:

• Lamine Yamal has scored 1 goal so far in the tournament (back in the first round called “group play”).
• Mikel Oyarzabal has scored 4 goals and helped Spain reach the semifinals (the last four teams left).
• Oyarzabal also previously scored a super important winning goal in another big tournament for Spain.

The Big Upcoming Match

Spain is playing against France on Tuesday, July 14 in the semifinal game. It will be at a huge stadium called AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

• The winner of Spain vs France will play against either England or Argentina.
• England and Argentina play their semifinal on Wednesday, July 15.

Important Point: This is a huge moment! Only four teams are left, and Spain wants to go to the final.

Who Is Mikel Oyarzabal? (Explained Like You’re 5)

Think of Mikel as a grown-up soccer player whose main job is to score goals. Here’s his story in easy bits:

• He is 29 years old.
• He plays in the “forward” position (that means he stays near the other team’s net to try to score).
• He first played for Spain’s national team in 2016 when he was 19 years old (this first game is called a “debut”).
• Since then, he has played 59 games (these are called “appearances”) and scored 29 goals for Spain.

How Many Goals Has He Scored in This 2026 World Cup?

Oyarzabal is having a great tournament! He has scored 4 goals total. Let’s count them step by step:

1. Two goals (called a “brace” – that’s just a fun word for two goals by the same player in one game) against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Spain won that game 4-0.
2. Two more goals against Austria in the “round of 32” (a later round of the tournament). Spain won that game 3-0.

Callout: A “brace” is not jewelry here – it’s when one player scores twice in a single match!

Did He Play in the 2022 World Cup?

No, he did not. Why? Because he was healing from a torn ACL. An ACL is a tiny rope inside your knee that helps it stay stable. He hurt it, so he couldn’t play.

What Did He Do in the 2024 European Championship?

The European Championship (or “Euros”) is another big soccer tournament, but only for European countries. In the 2024 version:

• Oyarzabal scored the winning goal in the final match.
• Spain beat England 2-1 and won the whole trophy!

What Club Team Does He Play For?

When he’s not playing for Spain, Mikel plays for a Spanish club called Real Sociedad. They are in a league called La Liga (the top soccer league in Spain, where many great teams play).

Summary

To wrap it up simply:

• The 2026 World Cup is happening, and Spain (La Roja) is in the semifinals.
• Lamine Yamal is the teenage star, but Mikel Oyarzabal (age 29, forward) is the one with 4 World Cup goals this year.
• Oyarzabal first played for Spain in 2016, has 29 career goals for them, missed 2022 due to knee injury, and won the 2024 Euros with a final goal.
• He plays for Real Sociedad in Spain’s La Liga.
• Spain faces France on July 14 in Dallas; the winner meets England or Argentina.

FAQ

1. Who is Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal is a very young Spanish soccer player (a teenager) who plays for FC Barcelona and Spain. He has broken many records and scored one goal in the 2026 World Cup so far.

2. What does “La Roja” mean?
It’s a nickname for the Spanish national soccer team. It means “the red” in Spanish, because they wear red shirts.

3. What is a “brace” in soccer?
A brace is when one player scores two goals in the same game. Oyarzabal got a brace against Saudi Arabia and another brace against Austria.

4. Why did Oyarzabal miss the 2022 World Cup?
He had a torn ACL (a knee injury) and was recovering, so he couldn’t play.

5. When is the Spain vs France semifinal?
It is on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, as part of the 2026 World Cup.