LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Belgium-France 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal will be shown live today on a movie-size screen at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills and on a big screen at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.
Admission is free at both venues. There will be a cash bar at the Hammer Museum.
A viewing party for the 11 a.m. Fox telecast of the game from St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, organized by the Los Angeles Football Club will be held at The Parlor sports bar in the Fairfax district.
Belgium advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Brazil Friday, while France defeated Uruguay, 2-0, in its semifinal Friday. Belgium is the last team in the tournament without a loss or tie, with victories in all five of its games. (A game decided by penalty kicks is considered a tie.)
Belgium was among three teams to complete group play undefeated and untied, along with Croatia and Uruguay. Its plus-seven goal differential was the best in group play and its nine goals the most.
Belgium began play in the knockout stage with a 3-2 victory over Japan in a round of 16 game July 1, becoming the first team to overcome a two- goal second-half deficit in a World Cup knockout stage game since 1970.
France won Group C with a 2-0-1 record, defeating Australia, 2-1, and Peru, 1-0, and tying Denmark, 0-0. It defeated Argentina, 4-3, in its round of 16 game June 30, with 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe scoring twice in the second half.
Belgium is undefeated in its past 23 games with 18 victories and five ties. Its last loss was on July 1, 2016, when it lost to Wales, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
France was 3-1-1 in its 2018 exhibitions leading up to the World Cup, including a 1-1 tie with the U.S. in its final World Cup tuneup June 9, before going 4-0-1 in the World Cup.
With France's roster including five players who play on club teams in England, eight who play in France and six in Spain, 11 of its players are teammates with a total of 12 Belgian players on their club teams.
Belgium is third in the rankings compiled by FIFA, soccer's international governing body. France is ranked seventh.
This is the second time Belgium, known as the Red Devils, has reached the semifinals. The other time was in 1986 when it finished fourth.
This is the sixth time France, known as The Blues, has reached the semifinals, and the first since 2006. It has won in the semifinals twice -- 1998 when it was the host nation and went on to win the World Cup, and 2006 when it finished second.
The Belgium-France winner will advance to Sunday's World Cup final against the winner of Wednesday's England-Croatia semifinal. The loser will play in Saturday's third-place game against the England-Croatia loser.
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