Super-sub Mikel Merino did it once more — the man who keeps writing Hollywood scripts in Spain’s shirt bagged a dramatic 88th-minute winner to send La Roja past Belgium 2-1 and into the World Cup 2026 semi-finals in Los Angeles.
For a third straight knockout game at a major tournament, Merino came off the bench and delivered a match-winning goal. His late strike against Belgium followed similar heroics against Germany at Euro 2024 and Portugal in the round of 16, cementing his status as the most unlikeliest of superstars.
“It doesn’t make any sense, but here we are again.”
— Mikel Merino
How the Game Unfolded
Spain controlled the first half from the off. Lamine Yamal was electric on the right flank, and it was his perfectly weighted pass that set Pedro Porro free down the wing. Porro’s cut-back found Dani Olmo, whose first-time shot was parried by Thibaut Courtois — but Fabián Ruiz, starting ahead of Pedri, was on hand to tuck away the rebound on 30 minutes.
Belgium, largely subdued in the opening period, struck back just before half-time. Jérémy Doku sparked the move with a driving run, Kevin De Bruyne picked out Timothy Castagne with a crisp pass, and Charles De Ketelaere rose above Pau Cubarsí to head home the equaliser — the first goal Spain had conceded all tournament.
Courtois Injury Proves Costly
The second half was tense. Spain pushed hard for a winner with Lamine Yamal testing Courtois from range. But disaster struck for Belgium when Courtois went down clutching his thigh and was forced off in tears. Substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens came on, and it proved a turning point.
With the clock ticking past 85 minutes and extra time looming, Luis de la Fuente turned to Merino once more. What happened next was pure déjà vu.
Pau Cubarsí’s speculative shot from distance was spilled by Lammens, and Merino reacted quickest, smashing the rebound into the net with just his second touch of the game. The stadium erupted. Spain’s super-sub had done it again.
What’s Next for Spain?
Spain will now face France in the semi-finals on Tuesday, July 14. Les Bleus booked their place after a comfortable 2-0 win over Morocco, with Kylian Mbappé once again delivering a masterclass performance.
It shapes up to be a fascinating clash — the tournament’s best defence (Spain had conceded just once before the Belgium game) against the tournament’s most clinical attack, led by the imperious Mbappé.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final will be decided after England take on Norway on Saturday (July 11), followed by Argentina facing Switzerland on Sunday (July 12) for the remaining spot in the last four.
FAQ
Q: Who scored for Spain against Belgium?
A: Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and super-sub Mikel Merino netted the winner in the 88th minute. Charles De Ketelaere scored Belgium’s equaliser.
Q: When is the Spain vs France semi-final?
A: The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. Kick-off details will be confirmed by FIFA.
Q: How many goals has Mikel Merino scored as a substitute at major tournaments?
A: Merino has now scored three dramatic late winners as a substitute — against Germany at Euro 2024 (119′), Portugal in the World Cup round of 16 (91′), and now Belgium in the quarter-final (88′).
Upcoming World Cup 2026 Fixtures
- Saturday, July 11: Norway vs England (Quarter-final)
- Sunday, July 12: Argentina vs Switzerland (Quarter-final)
- Tuesday, July 14: France vs Spain (Semi-final)
- Wednesday, July 15: Semi-final 2
- Sunday, July 19: World Cup 2026 Final