A late goal from Mikel Merino gave Spain a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.
Spain have advanced to their second ever World Cup semi-final and will face France in the last four next Tuesday.
Merino, who scored a stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the previous round, pounced on a leak from substitute Senne Lammens and fired the ball into the roof of the net in the 88th minute to give Spain the win.
Spain vs Belgium – As it happened
Fabian Ruiz, making his first start since the opening group match, opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Charles de Ketelaere equalized for Belgium in the 41st minute.
Belgian captain Youri Tielemans had to be replaced from the start after picking up an injury during the warm-up, while veteran ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois went off injured in the final quarter of the match.
Spain vs Belgium – Player Ratings
Spain: Simón 6.2, Porro 7.2, Cubarsí 7.4, Laporte 6.9, Cucurella 6.7, Rodri 7.6, Ruiz 7.7, Lamine Yamal 7.4, Olmo 7.8, Baena 6.5, Oyarzabal 7.3
substitutes: Pedri 6.5, Ferran 6.1, Williams 6.2, Merino 7.5
Belgium: Courtois 6.8, Castagne 7.1, Ngoy 6.5, Mechele 6.7, De Cuyper 6.6, Vanaken 6.4, Raskin 6.6, Trossard 5.6, De Bruyne 6.8, Doku 7.1, De Ketelaere 7.6
substitutes: Seys 6.6, Witsel 6.0, Lukaku 5.9, Lammens 5.0, Saelemaekers 6.3.
Published on July 11, 2026
