Spain advance to semi-finals
Spain has secured a place in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium. The decisive goal came late in the match from substitute Mikel Merino, who entered the game in the 88th minute. This win sets up a semi-final clash against France, scheduled to take place in Texas on Tuesday.
The match saw Spain take the lead through Fabian Ruiz. However, Belgium responded with a goal from Charles De Ketelaere, levelling the score before half-time. The game remained tied until Merino’s late intervention.
Merino’s goal was a result of an error by Belgium‘s stand-in goalkeeper, Senne Lammens. Lammens had been introduced earlier in the match after Thibaut Courtois was forced off due to an injury. Merino capitalised on a rebound from Pau Cubarsi‘s shot, scoring with his second touch after being on the pitch for just 117 seconds.
This marks the second consecutive game in which Merino has scored a late winner for Spain, having also provided the decisive goal against Portugal in the previous round. Following the match, Merino expressed his satisfaction, noting that being prepared can lead to such outcomes. He stated that achieving a World Cup victory would be a dream come true.
Key moments and player performances
The match at the SoFi Stadium saw several notable moments. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute, converting a rebound. Belgium equalised in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere headed in a cross from Timothy Castagne.
Early in the second half, Lamine Yamal had a chance for Spain but was denied by Courtois. Belgium also created opportunities, with Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne combining to set up a chance for Maxim De Cuyper. Courtois was kept busy, making saves from Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.
A significant moment occurred in the 72nd minute when Thibaut Courtois was injured and replaced by Senne Lammens. This substitution proved pivotal later in the game when Lammens’ error led to Merino‘s winning goal in the 88th minute.
Spain‘s performance in this match has been described as a strong showing, with several key players contributing. Lamine Yamal was central to Spain‘s attacking play, leading in creative statistics with six efforts at goal and four successful dribbles. Rodri, the Spain captain, also played a crucial role, making 62 line-breaking passes in the final third during the tournament, equalling a record set in 2014.
Road to the semi-finals
Spain entered this quarter-final fixture after defeating Portugal 1-0 in their previous match. Belgium advanced to this stage by beating co-hosts USA with a 4-1 scoreline. The victory extends Spain‘s unbeaten run to 36 matches, a streak that began in March 2023.
Luis de la Fuente, Spain‘s manager, has now overseen 13 games at major tournaments without a loss, a record for an international manager. The upcoming semi-final against France is anticipated to be a significant encounter, with France being considered tournament favourites. The match will determine which team progresses to the final.
The quarter-final match between Spain and Belgium was the second quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup, following France‘s victory over Morocco the previous evening. The semi-final between Spain and France is scheduled for Tuesday in Texas.
Source: skysports.com