In a thrilling and dramatic match, Spain advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup after defeating Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals. The highly intense match was decided in the final minutes thanks to a heroic cameo from Mikel Merino.
“La Roja” dominated much of the first half, setting the pace from the start with an attacking style led by the runs down the flanks of Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal, well supported by Marc Cucurella, Álex Baena, and Dani Olmo.
Fabián Ruiz scored first, and Charles De Ketelaere equalized before halftime
Spain’s pressure paid off in the 30th minute. Dani Olmo fired a powerful shot that was parried by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but the rebound fell right to Fabián Ruiz. The midfielder, who was the big surprise in the starting lineup in place of Pedri, made no mistake and tapped the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
Just when it seemed Spain would head into halftime with the lead, Belgium struck back. In the 41st minute, Charles De Ketelaere capitalized on an opportunity to tie the game at 1-1, leaving the Spanish stunned after their dominance in the first half.
This goal ended Spain’s historic unbeaten streak in this World Cup, bringing the record to 649 minutes without conceding a goal.
Injuries and Dramatic Substitutions in the Second Half
Thibaut Courtois was visibly emotional after having to be substituted for Belgium 🇧🇪
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 10, 2026
Senne Lammens comes on to replace him pic.twitter.com/SAf0VxNdaZ
The second half brought more drama. In the 72nd minute, Belgium suffered a major blow when its veteran goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, had to be taken off the field due to an apparent injury. Although he tried to return after the water break, he was ultimately unable to continue and was replaced by Senne Lammens.
Toward the end, in the 85th minute, the Belgian team decided to make a substitution, taking out their captain, Kevin De Bruyne, and bringing in Alexis Saelemaekers. This substitution caused uncertainty among fans, who wondered if this would be the legendary Belgian midfielder’s final World Cup appearance.
Mikel Merino’s Moment: A Goal and a Spot in the Semifinals
Just as the match seemed headed for extra time, Mikel Merino stepped up. Just a few minutes after entering the game, the Arsenal midfielder pounced on a rebound inside the box and, in the 88th minute, fired a precise shot past the opposing goalkeeper to seal the 2-1 victory.
This last-minute goal sealed the victory for Spain, sending the Spanish fans into a frenzy and securing their spot in the semifinals.
With this historic victory, Spain is now preparing to face France in a thrilling semifinal. The match will take place in Dallas next Tuesday, July 14, at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). For Spain, this marks a return to the World Cup semifinals for the first time since they won the title in South Africa in 2010.
