Spain Beat Belgium 2-1 As Late Mikel Merino Goal Sends La Roja Into World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals

KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 2026 – Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California. La Roja sealed the win through a late goal from Mikel Merino, setting up a semi-final clash against France.

The match started with both teams playing openly, but Spain had more control of possession in the early stages. Belgium, meanwhile, relied on quick counter-attacks that caused several problems for the Spanish defence.

Spain broke the deadlock in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz, who finished inside the penalty area after a well-built attacking move. The goal was an important moment for Ruiz, who had been trusted to start by head coach Luis de la Fuente in place of Pedri.

Belgium responded before half-time when Charles De Ketelaere scored with a header in the 41st minute from a cross on the right side. The equaliser ended Spain’s impressive defensive run, as it became the first goal La Roja had conceded in the men’s World Cup after 650 minutes of play.

The second half remained tense as both managers made changes to increase attacking intensity. Spain continued to dominate possession, while Belgium tried to create danger through fast transitions. Belgium then suffered a major setback when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off due to injury and replaced by Senne Lammens.

As the match appeared to be heading towards extra time, substitute Mikel Merino delivered the decisive moment in the 88th minute. He reacted to a loose ball after Pau Cubarsi’s shot was not properly cleared by Lammens, scoring the winning goal for Spain.

The victory sent Spain into the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time since winning the tournament in 2010. It also extended La Roja’s unbeaten competitive run to 37 matches since March 2023, strengthening their status as one of the strongest contenders in the tournament.

For Belgium, the defeat ended their campaign at the quarter-final stage. Despite the disappointment, the team showed signs of positive regeneration through several younger players, although the injury to Courtois affected their defensive stability in the closing stages.

The result also raised questions over the future of Belgium’s golden generation, with senior players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois now in their 30s. The 2026 edition may be seen as one of their final chances to win a major international trophy together.