Spain defeats Belgium with late goal to seal World Cup semi-final spot

Spain secured a place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals by defeating Belgium 2-1 in a hard-fought quarter-final match on Friday, July 10, 2026. The decisive goal came late in the game from substitute Mikel Merino, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and sending Spain through to the next round of the tournament.

The match saw Spain take an early lead in the 30th minute with a goal from Fabian Ruiz. However, Belgium quickly responded, with Charles De Ketelaere finding the equalizer in the 41st minute before halftime, setting the stage for a tense second half. The turning point arrived in the 88th minute when Merino capitalized on a rebound after Belgium's substitute goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, spilled a shot, securing Spain's victory. Lammens had entered the game earlier in the second half following an injury to Belgium's starting goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.

This victory marks Spain's first appearance in the World Cup semi-finals since they won the tournament in 2010, and they are now set to face tournament favorites France in a highly anticipated clash. Mikel Merino has emerged as a key player for Spain, scoring crucial late goals in back-to-back knockout matches, having also netted the winner against Portugal in the Round of 16.