Kha Y Tran Spain reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after beating Belgium 2-1 in a thrilling quarterfinal. From the first whistle, the match stayed close. However, Mikel Merino scored a late winner to seal the victory. As a result, Spain will now face France in the semifinals.
Belgium fought hard throughout the game. Nevertheless, they could not stop Spain from taking another step toward the title.
Watch the match highlights at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHoctq0AOg8
Spain Start on the Front Foot
Both teams played with great energy from kickoff. Early on, Spain controlled possession and looked calm on the ball. Meanwhile, Belgium waited patiently for counterattacking chances.
Lamine Yamal caused problems on the right wing. In addition, Dani Olmo found space between the lines and linked play well.
On the other hand, Belgium remained dangerous whenever they broke forward. Kevin De Bruyne controlled the midfield, while Jeremy Doku stretched Spain’s defense with his pace.
Although both sides created chances, neither team found the net during the opening stages.
Spain had the upper hand in terms of possession against Belgium after the opening whistle (Photo: Reuters)
Fabian Ruiz Opens the Scoring
Spain finally broke the deadlock in the 30th minute.
First, Yamal released Pedro Porro down the right flank. Then, Porro delivered a low cross into the penalty area. Dani Olmo fired the first shot, but Thibaut Courtois produced an excellent save.
However, Belgium failed to clear the rebound. Consequently, Fabian Ruiz reacted first and scored from close range.
After that, Spain continued to dominate possession. Moreover, they looked confident and searched for another goal before halftime.
Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain against Belgium (Photo: Reuters)
Belgium Hit Back Before the Break
Belgium refused to give up. Instead, they pushed higher up the pitch and won more battles in midfield. Their effort paid off in the 41st minute.
Charles De Ketelaere found space inside the box and finished calmly. As a result, Belgium leveled the score at 1-1.
The equalizer changed the game. Spain slowed the tempo, while Belgium grew in confidence.
Both teams went into halftime level.
De Ketelaere’s header leveled the score at 1-1 for Belgium against Spain (Photo: Reuters)
A Tight Second Half
The second half was more tactical. Spain kept the ball for long periods. However, Belgium defended well and stayed organized.
Luis de la Fuente made several changes. Pedri and Ferran Torres came on to add fresh energy. At the other end, Belgium introduced Romelu Lukaku to strengthen the attack. Both defenses stayed strong.
Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte cleared several dangerous balls. Meanwhile, Belgium blocked shots from Yamal, Olmo, and Oyarzabal.
As time passed, extra time looked more likely.
Lamine Yamal is eager to score a goal (Photo: Reuters)
Merino Scores the Winner
Everything changed in the 88th minute. Pau Cubarsí tried his luck from long range. The shot bounced just in front of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The Belgian keeper could not hold the ball. Mikel Merino reacted first. He fired the rebound into the net from close range.
The goal sparked huge celebrations among the Spanish players and fans.
Mikel Merino scored just two minutes after coming on as a substitute (Photo: Reuters)
Belgium Fall Short
Belgium pushed forward during seven minutes of added time. They created a few dangerous moments. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón even made a mistake while holding the ball.
However, Belgium failed to take advantage. Spain defended with composure until the final whistle. Finally, the referee ended the match and confirmed Spain’s 2-1 victory.
Spain Set Up a Huge Clash with France
Spain will now face France in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. The match promises to be one of the biggest games of the tournament. Both teams have played excellent football and are among the favorites to lift the trophy.
Spain have impressed with their calm passing, solid defense, and ability to score important late goals. Meanwhile, France continue to rely on their pace and attacking quality.
Belgium leave the tournament with disappointment. Nevertheless, they showed great fight against one of the strongest teams in the competition.
Match Summary
Final Score: Spain 2-1 Belgium
Goals
- Spain: Fabian Ruiz (30′), Mikel Merino (88′)
- Belgium: Charles De Ketelaere (41′)
Top Performers
- Mikel Merino – Scored the winning goal.
- Lamine Yamal – Created the opening goal and threatened all game.
- Fabian Ruiz – Opened the scoring and controlled midfield.
- Charles De Ketelaere – Brought Belgium back into the match.
- Pau Cubarsí – His long-range effort led to the winning goal.
Spain stayed patient when it mattered most. Therefore, they earned a dramatic win and moved into the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. Next, La Roja will face France in a massive battle for a place in the final.
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World Cup: Belgium’s Miracle Comeback Sinks Senegal
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