Spain advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, edging Belgium 2-1 in a tense quarterfinal at Los Angeles Stadium that turned on a late strike from substitute Mikel Merino.
Merino, who also came off the bench to score the winner in the round of 16 against Portugal, pounced in the 86th minute after Belgium backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens could only parry a long-range effort from Pau Cubarsi. The rebound fell kindly for Merino, who buried it into the roof of the net to send Spain into the World Cup last four for just the second time in the nation’s history.
The victory also extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 36 matches, a new national record and one short of Italy’s all-time mark of 37, setting up a heavyweight World Cup semifinal against France on Tuesday.
“It will be a clash of giants,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said through a translator, previewing the World Cup semifinal matchup with France.
Spain took the lead just after the first-half hydration break, when head coach De la Fuente’s decision to start Fabian Ruiz over Pedri paid immediate dividends. A flowing move down the right saw Lamine Yamal find Pedro Porro, whose cross was met by Dani Olmo. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois saved Olmo’s initial effort, but the ball fell straight to Ruiz, who tapped in from close range to put Spain ahead in the World Cup quarterfinal.
Yamal, still just a teenager, was playing his sixth match of this World Cup, the most appearances by a player 18 or under in the tournament’s history.
Belgium responded before halftime. Timothy Castagne whipped in a precise cross that Charles De Ketelaere met with a glancing header past goalkeeper Unai Simón to level the score. It was the first goal conceded by Spain and Simon all summer at the World Cup, ending a 650-minute scoreless run at the tournament that dated back to the 2022 World Cup.
The second half was tighter, with Belgium finding pockets of danger through Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne, whose combination play repeatedly stretched Spain’s back line without producing a goal. Spain, though, continued to dominate possession as they searched for a way to keep their World Cup campaign alive without the drama of a shootout.
Belgium’s afternoon was complicated by injuries. Captain Youri Tielemans, who had been instrumental throughout Belgium’s run to the quarterfinals, was removed from the starting lineup during warmups. Then in the 71st minute, Courtois was forced off after appearing to hurt himself on a clearance. He initially received treatment on the field and looked ready to continue, but was withdrawn minutes later and replaced by Lammens, whose spilled save proved decisive.
Merino’s introduction from the bench again altered the course of a knockout match. He scored on his second touch after entering, just as he had against Portugal in the previous round.
“I’ve done this again, and it’s happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists,” Merino said afterward, smiling. “If you’re ready and you try, it can happen for you. I’m very, very pleased.”
Spain will now turn its attention to France, which eliminated Morocco to reach the World Cup semifinals, in what promises to be one of the standout matchups of the World Cup’s final week.
For Belgium, the exit ends a run built on resilience, including a dramatic comeback win over Senegal in the round of 32 in which Tielemans scored twice. Without their captain and, for long stretches, their first-choice goalkeeper, Belgium came up just short against a Spain side that has cemented its place among the favorites to lift the trophy at this World Cup.
Spain’s depth, and De la Fuente’s willingness to trust his bench, have become defining features of the team’s march through the tournament.
