Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, thanks to a late winner from super-sub Mikel Merino.
First Half: A Cautious Affair
In a quarter-final that started cautiously, both European heavyweights struggled to find their rhythm in the opening 45 minutes. Spain dominated possession as expected, but Belgium’s well-organized defense kept Luis de la Fuente’s side at bay. The first half ended goalless, with neither team able to create clear-cut opportunities.
Second Half: Goals and Drama
The deadlock was broken shortly after the hour mark when Fabian Ruiz found the back of the net with a composed finish, putting La Roja ahead. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s strike seemed to have broken Belgium’s resistance and put Spain firmly in control.
However, Belgium responded almost immediately. Charles De Ketelaere headed home a well-worked equalizer against the run of play, silencing the Spanish contingent in the stands and setting up a tense finale.
Merino Strikes Again
Just when it looked like the match was heading for extra time, disaster struck for Belgium. Thibaut Courtois was forced off with an injury after making a save, and substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens — the Manchester United shot-stopper — was called into action.
In the 88th minute, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a powerful strike from 25 yards. Lammens made the initial save but couldn’t hold onto the ball, and there was Mikel Merino to pounce on the rebound, firing into the roof of the net. It was a heartbreaking moment for the young goalkeeper, who had been thrown into the pressure cooker of a World Cup quarter-final.
“Lammens doesn’t cover himself in any glory. He didn’t make a mistake for Man United last year but this is another pressure situation,” said former England defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Merino is calm and lifts it over the goalkeeper. He’s scored two of the most important goals of his career in the last two games.”
Belgium pushed forward in search of another equalizer, and Romelu Lukaku thought he had rescued them in stoppage time, but his powerful charge on Unai Simon was adjudged a foul on the goalkeeper. The final whistle confirmed Spain’s passage to the last four.
What This Means
This marks only the second time Spain have reached the World Cup semi-finals in their history — the last time was in 2010, when they went on to win the trophy in South Africa. For Belgium, it’s another case of “what could have been” as their golden generation era officially comes to a close.
Mikel Merino has now scored winning goals in two consecutive knockout matches, cementing his reputation as one of the most impactful substitutes in world football.
Upcoming Fixtures – World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals
- Tuesday, July 14 — Spain vs France (Los Angeles Stadium, 20:00 BST)
- Wednesday, July 15 — Semi-Final 2 (TBD)
- Final: Sunday, July 19 — Venue TBD
FAQs
When is the Spain vs France semi-final?
The match will take place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at Los Angeles Stadium with kick-off at 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET.
Who scored for Spain against Belgium?
Fabian Ruiz scored the opener for Spain, while super-sub Mikel Merino scored the dramatic 88th-minute winner. Charles De Ketelaere scored Belgium’s equalizer.
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