Merino’s Late Heroics Send Spain Past Belgium, Set Up Blockbuster World Cup Semi-final Against France

Los Angeles, July 2026 : Mikel Merino once again emerged as Spain’s match-winner, scoring a dramatic late goal to seal a thrilling 2-1 victory over Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarter-final on Friday and book a blockbuster semi-final clash against France.

The Arsenal midfielder, introduced from the bench, struck in the 88th minute after Belgian substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled a long-range effort, sending Spain into the last four for the first time since lifting the World Cup in 2010.

The victory at SoFi Stadium sets up a mouth-watering showdown with defending European champions France and their in-form superstar Kylian Mbappe in Dallas on Tuesday. For Belgium, however, the defeat marked another heartbreaking end to a World Cup campaign and raised fresh questions about the future of their ageing “Golden Generation.”

Spain looked the more composed side throughout much of the contest, dominating possession and dictating the tempo with their trademark passing football. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring midway through the first half before Belgium responded through Charles De Ketelaere just before the interval to set up a gripping second half.

Belgium’s preparations suffered a major setback even before kickoff when captain Youri Tielemans sustained a hamstring injury during the warm-up and was ruled out of the match. Already missing influential midfielder Amadou Onana because of a ruptured ACL, coach Rudi Garcia was forced to field a reshuffled midfield against one of the world’s strongest possession-based teams.

Spain wasted little time asserting control.

Ruiz, brought into the starting lineup in place of Pedri, combined superbly with Rodri to dominate midfield, while teenage sensation Lamine Yamal constantly threatened Belgium’s defence with his pace and creativity. The Barcelona star nearly opened the scoring early on when his curling effort drifted narrowly wide of the far post.

Belgium, however, remained dangerous on the counterattack. Jeremy Doku, returning to the starting lineup alongside Kevin De Bruyne, repeatedly troubled Spain’s defence with his direct running. One of his early bursts created an opportunity for Charles De Ketelaere, who had scored twice in Belgium’s previous victory over the United States.

Spain eventually found the breakthrough in the 30th minute through an excellent team move. Pedro Porro exchanged passes with Yamal before driving to the byline and cutting the ball back for Dani Olmo. Although Thibaut Courtois produced an excellent save from Olmo’s effort, the rebound fell kindly to Fabian Ruiz, who calmly fired home from close range.

The goal lifted Spain’s confidence as they began to dominate possession almost completely, moving the ball with precision and forcing Belgium deep into their own half.

Despite being under sustained pressure, Belgium refused to panic.

Just four minutes before halftime, Kevin De Bruyne produced a moment of brilliance, threading a perfectly weighted pass to Timothy Castagne on the right flank. Castagne delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area, where Charles De Ketelaere timed his run perfectly before rising above Pau Cubarsi to head the equaliser past Unai Simon.

It was Spain’s first goal conceded in the entire World Cup and gave Belgium renewed belief heading into the second half.

Belgium almost turned the match around moments later when they launched a swift counterattack from a Spain corner. De Ketelaere released Doku with a clever pass, but Dani Olmo recovered brilliantly to intercept before the winger could pull the trigger.

The second half developed into an entertaining end-to-end contest.

Yamal continued to torment Belgium’s defence and nearly created another goal after delivering a dangerous cross towards Mikel Oyarzabal, only for Courtois to race off his line and make a vital intervention.

Belgium introduced experienced striker Romelu Lukaku in search of another decisive contribution. The veteran forward had scored as a substitute in each of his previous three appearances and immediately added a greater physical presence to Belgium’s attack.

Both teams continued to create chances. Rodri escaped a penalty appeal after a Belgian cross struck his arm, with the referee ruling the contact accidental. At the other end, Oyarzabal tested Courtois from a difficult angle before the experienced goalkeeper suffered an injury in the 70th minute.

His departure proved to be the game’s defining moment.

Twenty-four-year-old Senne Lammens entered the match for his FIFA World Cup debut under immense pressure, replacing one of the tournament’s finest goalkeepers.

With just two minutes remaining, Pau Cubarsi unleashed a speculative low shot from distance. Lammens appeared set to collect comfortably but could only parry the ball into the path of substitute Mikel Merino, who reacted quickest to smash home the rebound and spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players.

Remarkably, it was Merino’s second consecutive match-winning goal as a substitute after he had also netted the decisive strike against Portugal in stoppage time during the Round of 16.

Belgium had one final opportunity to force extra time when Alexis Saelemaekers rounded goalkeeper Unai Simon, but his attempted pass across goal failed to find the unmarked Lukaku.

When the final whistle sounded, devastated Belgian players stood motionless while Courtois, despite his own injury disappointment, embraced an emotional Lammens in a touching display of support.

Spain’s players, meanwhile, celebrated another dramatic knockout victory before quickly turning their attention to what promises to be one of the tournament’s biggest encounters—a World Cup semi-final against a star-studded French side led by Kylian Mbappe, with a place in the final now just one victory away.