Spain advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Belgium 2-1 in a thrilling encounter at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, setting up a blockbuster clash with France for a place in the final.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored a dramatic winning goal in the 88th minute, continuing his role as his side's saviour for the second match running, having also netted the qualification goal against Portugal in the round of 16.
Spain imposed their dominance on possession from the opening minutes and pressed for an early goal, while Belgium relied on counter-attacks. Belgium almost caught their opponents off guard in the 14th minute when Jérémy Doku broke past the Spanish defence, but goalkeeper Unai Simón intervened at the right moment to keep his goal intact.
Spain responded with an attempt from Lamine Yamal in the 21st minute, before converting their superiority into a lead in the 30th minute, when Fabián Ruiz pounced on a rebound from Dani Olmo's shot that had been parried by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, driving the ball powerfully into the net.
Courtois continued to shine by stopping a dangerous free-kick attempt from Lamine Yamal in the 35th minute, but Belgium managed to level before the end of the first half with 4 minutes remaining, when Charles De Ketelaere headed a precise cross into the net, scoring the first goal Spain had conceded in the tournament and ending Unai Simón's clean-sheet streak.
Belgium began the second half strongly and nearly took the lead after a dangerous chance in the 47th minute, but Simón again saved his goal. A minute later, Lamine Yamal found himself one-on-one with Courtois, who stopped his attempt before the referee raised the offside flag.
The following minutes saw an exchange of attacks, with the Spanish defence clearing a dangerous cross sent in by Nicolas Raskin in the 62nd minute, before the pace of the match intensified amid outstanding performances from both goalkeepers and defensive lines in repelling chances.
The Spanish side asserted control over the final 30 minutes, retaining possession and creating numerous attempts, until the 88th minute arrived, when substitute Mikel Merino — just 2 minutes after coming on — capitalised on a rebound from substitute goalkeeper Siney Lammens, who had replaced an injured Courtois, slotting the ball into the net to hand Spain the precious qualification goal.
Belgium attempted a comeback in stoppage time, but none of their efforts proved successful, as the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Spain's late-winner victory and their place in the semi-finals.