Spain’s national team beat France (2-0) and reached the final of the 2026 World Cup. In Seattle, a mini-home is being sold for $425,000 with a unique landscaping concept. Also in the city, a fire broke out at a commercial building—no one was injured.
Spain beat France and reached the final of the World Cup
In the World Cup semifinals taking place in the United States, Spain produced a convincing 2-0 win over France to earn a place in the final. The victory marked Spain’s first appearance in the decisive match at a men’s world tournament since 2010, when they became world champions. The game, held in Arlington, Texas, showcased the tactical maturity and composure of a young Spanish side, which managed to neutralize the attacking threat posed by the French, led by Kylian Mbappé. France, currently ranked No. 1 in the FIFA standings, tried to become only the third team in history to play in three consecutive finals, but now they will face a match for third place.
The key moment came when a penalty was awarded against France in the 22nd minute. Mikel Oyarzabal converted it, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament. The sequence began with the teenager Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 the day before, aggressively pressing France defender Lucas Digne near the penalty area. Digne mishandled the ball with his head, and Yamal stuck out a foot to strike; the ball then hit the Spaniard’s elbow, and Digne brought him down with a kick. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Notably, it was the first time at this tournament that either of these teams found themselves in a “trailing” position. Oyarzabal scored his 30th goal in 60 matches for the national team.
Spain added their second goal after a beautiful sequence on the 58th minute: Pedro Porro played a wall pass with Dani Olmo, received the return pass, and fired into the net. Dayot Upamecano failed to block the shot in time and collided with Olmo, who then played the key through ball. Up to that point, France had conceded only two goals in the tournament, and Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón recorded his sixth clean sheet out of seven matches. Spain’s attacks didn’t slow down: on 38 minutes, France goalkeeper Mike Maignan cleared the ball poorly straight to Alex Baena. A flurry of quick passes followed, but Fabián Ruiz’s shot was blocked. In the first half, there was also a dangerous free kick, but Baena fired it into the wall.
Even though his goal was ruled out for offside, Yamal once again proved that he is one of the standout talents in world football. A day before the match, in an interview following the quarterfinal, he said France should be afraid of him—and those words proved prophetic. Recall that this summer Spain had already beaten France in the semifinals of the European Championship (2-1) and in the Nations League (5-4). The Spanish team extended their unbeaten run in normal time to 37 matches (28 wins, 9 draws), breaking their own record from 2007–2009. For France, the loss ended their own record streak of six straight wins at the World Cup.
In the final, which will be held on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Spain will face the winner of the Argentina vs England match. As noted by The Seattle Times, this will be only Spain’s second final in history. After the match, Porro himself stressed the team spirit: “We gave it our all to get to the final. We know we’re a very strong team. This is our team—none of it is about me.” Now all of Spain is waiting for Sunday, hoping to repeat the success of 2010.
A tiny house in Seattle: $425,000—for your own corner of nature in the city
An unusual listing has appeared on the Seattle real estate market: a tiny home of just 320 square feet (about 30 square meters) is for sale for $425,000. But the main highlight of this deal isn’t the square footage inside—it’s the incredible outdoor space. The home is located in the Olympic Hills neighborhood on a lot of almost 3,000 square feet, and the sellers are betting on the concept of “minimum inside, maximum outside.” As realtors Christine Munger and Amanda Reed from Windermere point out in the original KOMO post, it’s “the perfect Airbnb, first home, or downsizing option”—a place where “only you set the rules.”
The main feature is the so-called “outdoor living room” with a concrete floor, bamboo blinds, and tree canopies that let in just the right amount of light. It’s a true private oasis in a big city: quiet, greenery, and a sense of being completely removed from the urban noise, even though a light-rail station is just a few minutes away. The house is built to use every inch: natural light fills every room, and the layout is designed to be highly functional. For many buyers, it could be an alternative to expensive apartments or remote country homes: you can live minimally here without losing connection to city infrastructure.
A price of $425,000 for a tiny home may seem high, but it reflects Seattle’s market realities, where the average cost per square foot has long been over $500. Also, the buyer is paying mainly for the land (a 2,918 sq. ft. lot) and for the unique landscaping design. It’s important to understand that 320 square feet is less than the area of a standard studio. For comparison, a typical one-bedroom home in the U.S. is about 800–1,000 sq. ft. Living in such a space requires getting used to compactness, but for those who value nature and are willing to accept close quarters, it can be an ideal solution.
What’s especially interesting about this property is its duality: it’s marketed both as investment housing (Airbnb) and as a permanent home, as well as an option for people who want to “downsize.” With rising real estate prices and the popularity of the “tiny houses” movement, such listings are niche—but still a sought-after product. If a buyer treats the home as an Airbnb, the unique design and proximity to transportation could provide a steady income. For a first home, it means saving on a mortgage and utility bills—though, of course, you’ll have to accept the lack of typical living space.
Ultimately, this listing is a metaphor for today’s housing market in expensive cities: instead of taking out a mortgage for a huge home in the suburbs, people are increasingly choosing compact living and quality of life, where the home is just the base—and real life happens outside.
Fire at a commercial building in Seattle’s Madison Valley
In the early morning of July 14, 2026, a fire broke out in a three-story commercial building in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood. Firefighters arrived on the scene and found flames coming out of multiple windows on the third floor. Fortunately, no one was injured. The Seattle Fire Department responded quickly, and the blaze was soon contained. KOMO reports this, citing a photograph by firefighter John Odegaard capturing the moment the fire was being put out.
Madison Valley is one of Seattle’s oldest residential and commercial neighborhoods, where many buildings have wooden structures from earlier construction eras. A fire in a commercial building could have posed a serious threat to neighboring properties, but coordinated action by firefighters helped prevent the flames from spreading. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but experts suggest it could have been caused by faulty electrical wiring or violations of fire-safety rules. Notably, the incident happened early in the morning, when the building likely had no occupants—which explains the lack of victims. This highlights the importance of having automatic alert and fire-suppression systems in commercial properties, especially at night. Seattle authorities are urging building owners to regularly check fire safety sys
