Merino's late winner sends Spain past Belgium 2-1 into FIFA WC semis
Synopsis
Mikel Merino has done it again — the super-sub struck in the 88th minute to send Spain past Belgium and into their first World Cup semifinal since their 2010 title triumph. With a 36-match unbeaten run in regular time and a match-winner emerging from the bench twice in a row, Spain are emerging as the tournament's most dangerous side heading into a blockbuster clash with France in Dallas.
Key Takeaways
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles on 11 July to reach the FIFA World Cup semifinals .
Substitute Mikel Merino scored the winner in the 88th minute — his second consecutive match-winning substitute appearance.
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute ; Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute .
De Ketelaere's goal ended goalkeeper Unai Simon 's record of 650 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding.
Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured in the 71st minute after his 21st World Cup appearance — second-most among goalkeepers behind Manuel Neuer (23).
Spain's unbeaten run in regular time now stands at 36 matches ; they face France in Dallas on 15 July .
Substitute Mikel Merino struck a dramatic late winner to send Spain into the FIFA World Cup semifinals for the first time since 2010, defeating Belgium 2-1 at Los Angeles on 11 July. La Roja will now face France in a last-four showdown in Dallas on Tuesday, 15 July.
How the Goals Fell
Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, firing home the rebound after Thibaut Courtois had parried Dani Olmo's first-time effort from Pedro Porro's low cross, following a driving run by Lamine Yamal. Belgium hit back in the 41st minute when Timothy Castagne's cross from the right found Charles De Ketelaere, who rose above Pau Cubarsi to head past Unai Simon — ending La Roja's run of six consecutive clean sheets at this World Cup and snapping Simon's record of 650 consecutive minutes without conceding.
The decisive blow came in the 88th minute, just two minutes after Merino entered the field. Belgium's substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold Cubarsi's long-range effort, and Merino pounced on the loose ball from close range to seal the win.
Merino: The Super-Sub Doing It Again
This was Merino's second consecutive match-winning substitute appearance for Spain. He had earlier come off the bench to score the only goal in Spain's 1-0 round-of-16 victory over Portugal. His ability to make an immediate impact from the bench has become one of the tournament's defining sub-plots, and a significant tactical asset for Spain's coaching staff heading into the semifinals.
Belgium's Blow: Courtois Forced Off
Courtois was forced off injured in the 71st minute after making his 21st FIFA World Cup appearance — the second-most among goalkeepers in history, behind only Germany's Manuel Neuer (23). His early exit left Belgium exposed at a critical stage, and Lammens' inability to hold Cubarsi's shot ultimately proved the difference.
Belgium had reached the quarterfinals by cruising past co-host United States 4-1, but the Red Devils could not sustain that momentum against a Spain side that has now gone 36 matches unbeaten in regular time — a streak stretching back to a 0-1 friendly defeat to Colombia in 2024.
Spain's Road to the Semifinals
Spain's return to the World Cup's final four marks their first semifinal since they lifted the trophy in South Africa in 2010. The current squad blends experience with youth — Yamal's electric runs, Olmo's creativity, and the clinical finishing of their substitutes have made them one of the tournament's most compelling teams. A meeting with France, historically one of the fiercest rivalries in international football, promises to be a defining contest of this World Cup.
With the unbeaten streak intact and a match-winner coming off the bench, Spain head to Dallas with considerable momentum.
Point of View
Who looked imperious against the United States, had no answer to Spain's late pressure without their first-choice goalkeeper. Spain's 36-match unbeaten run in regular time is the kind of statistic that flatters — but against France, a side with comparable pedigree and physical intensity, the real measure of this generation's quality will be on the line.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored for Spain against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal?
Fabian Ruiz scored Spain's opener in the 30th minute, and substitute Mikel Merino netted the decisive goal in the 88th minute to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Belgium on 11 July in Los Angeles.
When and where is Spain's FIFA World Cup semifinal?
Spain will face France in the FIFA World Cup semifinal in Dallas on Tuesday, 15 July.
What record did Mikel Merino set in the quarterfinal?
Merino scored a match-winning goal as a substitute for the second consecutive FIFA World Cup knockout match, having also come off the bench to score the only goal in Spain's 1-0 round-of-16 win over Portugal.
What happened to Thibaut Courtois during the match?
Courtois was forced off injured in the 71st minute after making his 21st FIFA World Cup appearance — the second-most among goalkeepers in history, behind Germany's Manuel Neuer (23). Substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens replaced him and was unable to hold the shot that led to Merino's winner.
When was the last time Spain reached the FIFA World Cup semifinals?
Spain last reached the FIFA World Cup semifinals in 2010, when they went on to win the tournament in South Africa. The 2026 quarterfinal victory over Belgium marks their return to the final four after a 16-year absence.
