Spain secure semifinal berth against France after late win over Belgium
11.07.2026
Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, with Mikel Merino scoring a late winner. This sets up a clash with France in the semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas. Merino’s decisive goal came in the 88th minute, marking his second consecutive match as a late hero for Spain.
The match saw Spain take an aggressive approach from the start. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute. His goal followed a diving save by Belgium‘s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from a shot by Dani Olmo, which came from Pedro Porro‘s cut-back from the right side of the area. Ruiz capitalised on the rebound, firing the ball into the net between Timothy Castagne‘s legs.
Ruiz’s inclusion in the starting lineup, a decision by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, proved effective. This choice meant Paris St Germain midfielder Ruiz started ahead of Pedri, who later came on for Ruiz in the second half. The opening goal gave Spain the lead in a match played in oppressive heat at Los Angeles Stadium.
Belgium, however, responded 11 minutes later. Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute, heading in a cross from Timothy Castagne. This goal was significant as it marked the first time Spain had conceded in the entire World Cup tournament, ending their record streak of 649 minutes without conceding a goal in the competition. The equaliser revitalised Belgium, and both teams battled intensely until halftime.
The second half saw a forced change for Belgium when their long-time goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left the field in the 71st minute due to an apparent thigh injury. He was replaced by backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who plays for Manchester United. This substitution proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.
Spain continued to press the Belgium defence after the break. The breakthrough came late in the game when Mikel Merino, who had been introduced as a substitute in the 86th minute, made an immediate impact. He scored from his second touch of the match, charging into the box and pouncing on a rebound. The opportunity arose after Lammens spilled a shot from Pau Cubarsi, which was taken from outside the area.
Merino’s goal in the 88th minute secured the 2-1 victory for Spain. The Arsenal forward had also scored as a substitute in injury time in Spain‘s previous match, a 1-0 win over Portugal in the last-16. Belgium made a desperate push for an equaliser in the final minutes, but Aymeric Laporte volleyed their best chance out of the box, preserving Spain‘s lead.
Belgium faced challenges even before the match began, with captain Youri Tielemans withdrawn from the starting lineup shortly before kickoff due to an injury sustained during the warm-up. Hans Vanaken replaced him. Additionally, Belgium was without midfielder Amadou Onana, who had torn his ACL in their round-of-16 victory against the United States. Despite these setbacks, Belgium put up a spirited fight.
This marks only the second time Spain has reached the semifinals of the World Cup, with their previous appearance in 2010 resulting in them winning the tournament. They also finished fourth in 1950 when the final round was a group stage. Spain will now face France, who are considered tournament favourites, in Dallas for a spot in the final.
The match was attended by a sold-out crowd at Los Angeles Stadium, with many supporters backing Spain. Among the notable attendees were musicians Courtney Love and Noel Gallagher, and actors Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz, and Javier Bardem. The semifinal match against France is scheduled for Tuesday.
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Source: aljazeera.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.