Spain had to suffer before earning a place among the final four. A late Mikel Merino finish settled Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 at 2-1 in Los Angeles.
Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring, while Charles De Ketelaere answered before halftime. However, Spain kept pressing after Belgium lost Thibaut Courtois through injury. Merino then attacked a loose rebound and sent La Roja into only its second World Cup semifinal.
Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 - Result and Context
Friday’s quarter final carried heavy pressure for both teams. Spain sought a rare return to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Belgium chased another deep tournament run. From the opening whistle, Spain controlled territory and moved the ball patiently. Belgium stayed compact, then searched for Doku and De Ketelaere during fast breaks. Fabián Ruiz rewarded Spain’s control after 29 minutes.
Jeremy Doku is floating against Spain 🥵 pic.twitter.com/ZKNJGA752m
— Cleverly 💐 (@Cleverlydey4u) July 10, 2026
Pedro Porro drove forward and the Belgian defense failed to clear the second ball. Ruiz arrived calmly and finished with his weaker right foot. That goal reflected Spain’s pressure, but the lead never felt safe. Soon after, Belgium grew stronger whenever Spain lost structure around midfield.
De Ketelaere goal in Spain vs Belgium FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal game pic.twitter.com/xaB1qA4uxY
— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) July 10, 2026
De Ketelaere punished one such moment during first half stoppage time. His header beat Unai Simón and ended Spain’s clean sheet run. Therefore, halftime arrived with the score level and the contest fully open. Spain faced a tougher second half than expected.
Courtois produced several important saves before leaving injured in the 71st minute. His replacement, Senne Lammens, entered under immediate pressure. Merino eventually decided the match, just minutes after joining the action.
Fabián Ruiz Changed the Rhythm Before Belgium Answered
De la Fuente left Pedri out and trusted Fabián beside Spain’s main creators. That choice added vertical running and stronger box arrivals. Moreover, Fabián supported Porro whenever Spain overloaded Belgium’s left side. The opening goal came from that exact pressure pattern.
🇪🇸🗨️"On méritait vraiment de gagner !"
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 10, 2026
🎙️ La FIERTÉ de DE LA FUENTE après ESPAGNE - BELGIQUE#beINFWC2026 pic.twitter.com/QeOdHhzSf0
Porro attacked space, a shot drew a weak save and Fabián reacted first. Belgium looked shaken for several minutes afterward. Spain then produced its cleanest passing spell of the tournament. Lamine Yamal drove inside, while Oyarzabal stretched the central defenders.
Fabian Ruiz goal in Spain vs Belgium FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal game pic.twitter.com/wQVAKx4ze3
— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) July 10, 2026
However, Spain failed to turn that dominance into a second goal. Belgium survived, reset and targeted space behind Spain’s full backs. De Ketelaere then attacked a cross and scored with Belgium’s first serious chance. As a result, Spain’s strongest spell ended painfully.
Courtois’ Injury Shifted Momentum Toward Spain
Belgium started the second half with more confidence and greater directness. Lukaku offered a stronger reference point in attack. Meanwhile, Doku kept carrying the ball forward from wide areas. Spain introduced Pedri and Ferran Torres to restore cleaner combinations.
Thibaut Courtois was emotional after having to come off in the second half vs. Spain due to injury 😔 pic.twitter.com/IuZW3yj2R1
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 10, 2026
Courtois then became Belgium’s key figure. He denied Lamine and Oyarzabal, keeping the tie balanced. However, his left thigh problem forced him off after 71 minutes. The Thibaut Courtois injury immediately changed Belgium’s defensive confidence.
🎥 | Thibaut Courtois congratulates Lamine Yamal after the match against Belgium, and Lamine asks him if everything is okay with his injury. 🫂❤️ pic.twitter.com/gUrbAlnxsF
— Access Yamal (@AccessYamal) July 10, 2026
Lammens entered cold, with Spain already pushing Belgium deeper. Consequently, the emotional temperature changed inside Los Angeles Stadium. Spain sensed vulnerability and attacked second balls with greater urgency. Belgium, by contrast, lost control whenever De Bruyne dropped too deep.
Thibaut Courtois tentang Senne Lammens usai laga #Spain vs. #Belgium:
— Seputar Real Madrid (@SeputarMadrid) July 11, 2026
“Setelah pertandingan saya memeluknya. Dia adalah penjaga gawang yang hebat. Pengalaman seperti ini hanya akan membuatnya semakin kuat.”
“Pada akhirnya, tidak banyak lagi yang bisa saya katakan atau… pic.twitter.com/B3bqwfSl2A
Moreover, the Red Devils struggled to connect midfield with Lukaku. De Bruyne eventually left and Belgium’s threat became more individual. Merino arrived in the 86th minute with a clear instruction. He attacked the penalty area and hunted every loose rebound. Two minutes later, that role produced Spain’s winning goal.
Match Timeline and World Cup Semi-Final Impact
Match at a Glance
Key Match Statistics
Major Match Events
- 30'spain goalFabián Ruiz opened the scoring. Spain 1-0 Belgium.
- 41'belgium goalCharles De Ketelaere equalized. Spain 1-1 Belgium.
- 43'yellow cardPau Cubarsí received Spain's first booking.
- 55'spain substitutionsPedri replaced Fabián Ruiz. Ferran Torres replaced Álex Baena.
- 60'belgium substitutionsRomelu Lukaku replaced Hans Vanaken. Axel Witsel replaced Leandro Trossard.
- 61'belgium substitutionJoaquin Seys replaced Maxim De Cuyper.
- 71'goalkeeper changeSenne Lammens replaced Thibaut Courtois.
- 79'spain substitutionNico Williams replaced Mikel Oyarzabal.
- 85'yellow cardKevin De Bruyne entered the referee's book.
- 86'spain substitutionMikel Merino replaced Dani Olmo.
- 86'belgium substitutionAlexis Saelemaekers replaced Kevin De Bruyne.
- 88'winning goalMikel Merino scored shortly after entering. Spain 2-1 Belgium.
- 90'+3yellow cardAymeric Laporte received a late booking.
- 90'+5yellow cardAxel Witsel received Belgium's final booking.
The decisive sequence came in the 88th minute. Pau Cubarsí struck firmly and Lammens parried without controlling the rebound. Merino anticipated the spill, stepped forward and finished from close range. Spain 2-1 Belgium became the final score after eight added minutes.
Mikel Merino winner goal vs Belgium | Spain 🇪🇸 Vs Belgium 🇧🇪 | 2026 FIFA World Cup#FIFAWorldCup #ESPBEL pic.twitter.com/dhOupf8yD6
— Football Extra Clips (@Tekkerzball) July 10, 2026
That Mikel Merino goal carried major historical weight. Spain reached only its second World Cup semifinal. Its previous appearance came in 2010, when Carles Puyol scored against Germany. Therefore, this victory connected two generations of Spanish football. For Belgium, the defeat carried a harsher feeling. Rudi Garcia’s side competed well and found a timely equalizer.
However, injuries damaged its plan before and during the match. Tielemans withdrew during warm ups, while Courtois later left injured. In addition, Belgium could not protect Lammens during Spain’s final pressure. Repeated second balls kept the substitute goalkeeper exposed.
The result now creates a France vs Spain semifinal in Dallas. That matchup brings elite talent, contrasting rhythms and enormous tactical pressure.
🗣️ “Being able to bring so much joy to so many people is a source of pride. Not just in Spain but the rest of the world.”
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) July 11, 2026
Mikel Merino on his last minute match winning goal against Belgium. 🇪🇸 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/K8KCRP5x2i
Why Spain Succeeded Under Late Pressure
Spain won because it kept attacking the same weak areas. Porro continued advancing, while Lamine received between the lines. Moreover, midfield runners kept attacking rebounds inside Belgium’s area. De la Fuente changed personnel without abandoning Spain’s identity.
Pedri improved control, Ferran stretched the pitch and Merino attacked the box. That balance gave Spain several routes toward goal. Spain also handled the final minutes with maturity. After Merino scored, the midfield closed central lanes and protected possession.
🔥🗣️ "SI ALGUIEN PUEDE CONTRA FRANCIA SOMOS NOSOTROS" 👀
— ®El Canal del Fútbol 🇪🇨⚽ (@ElCanalDFutbol) July 10, 2026
Lamine Yamal, jugador de España, ya palpita lo que será el encuentro contra la selección francesa en las semifinales de la Copa del Mundo. #AFP pic.twitter.com/HJcv8OFg3h
Meanwhile, defenders resisted Belgium’s direct balls and second-phase pressure. Merino’s contribution deserves special attention. He also scored the late winner against Portugal during the round of 16. Therefore, his knockout impact now extends beyond one dramatic moment.
🇪🇸🇧🇪 Spain fans turned SoFi Stadium into an absolute party during the World Cup quarterfinal.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 10, 2026
That energy was next level, La Roja supporters took the show.
Writer: Lucaspic.twitter.com/LVl0PTrTxm
What Belgium Lacked and What Comes Next
Belgium lacked calm after Courtois left the field. The back line dropped deeper, while midfielders stopped supporting counters consistently. However, Lammens should not carry the defeat alone. Spain’s final pressure forced hurried clearances and repeated second balls.
After Spain’s World Cup quarter-final win over Belgium, Lamine Yamal was named Super Player of the Match. But what got him the most excited was seeing his younger brother, Keyne, on the big screen 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/Bu7RyyzObP
— Cleverly 💐 (@Cleverlydey4u) July 10, 2026
Belgium also needed more influence from De Bruyne before his substitution. His passing remained useful, but Spain limited his forward connections. Moreover, Lukaku received too few clean deliveries inside the area. Doku threatened occasionally, although his runs rarely ended with support.
Our World Cup comes to an end. 🇧🇪 #ESPBEL#ScoredWithING pic.twitter.com/YCqwHglKcb
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 10, 2026
Belgium now leaves with frustration, yet several positives remain. De Ketelaere scored under pressure and confirmed his growing international value. The squad also showed resilience against a technically superior opponent. Meanwhile, Spain must prepare for France and Kylian Mbappé.
¡El equipo de Luis de la Fuente se medirá ante Francia en la primera Semifinal de la #CopaMundialFIFA! 👏
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 10, 2026
That semifinal will demand better defensive concentration than Belgium required. Any loose cross or broken transition could become decisive. Therefore, Spain’s celebration should remain intense but brief.
¡España accede a la Semifinal con un triunfo sobre la hora! 🇪🇸✅#CopaMundialFIFA
— Copa Mundial FIFA 🏆 (@fifaworldcup_es) July 10, 2026
Spain’s route to Dallas now carries history, belief and serious responsibility. Merino’s late finish delivered another unforgettable knockout escape. However, France presents a faster and more ruthless challenge. Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 showed Spain can suffer without losing its football.
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