California, July 11 : Super-sub Mikel Merino struck again as Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals in Inglewood, California, on Friday (July 10).
Merino, who scored a stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the Round of 16, came off the bench in the 86th minute before finding the net just two minutes later. The Arsenal midfielder pounced after Belgium substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens spilled Pau CubarsÃ’s long-range effort, firing home the rebound with only his second touch of the match.
The win sets up a semi-final clash against France in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday (July 14), with a place in the July 19 final at stake. France are bidding to reach a third successive World Cup final after winning the title in 2018 and finishing runners-up to Argentina four years later.
“It will be a clash of giants,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after the match.
Spain took the lead in the 30th minute through Fabián Ruiz. Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro combined down the right before Dani Olmo’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois, with Ruiz reacting quickest to bury the rebound. Ruiz had been preferred to Pedri in the starting lineup.
Belgium equalised in the 41st minute when Charles De Ketelaere rose above Cubarsà to head home Timothy Castagne’s cross, ending goalkeeper Unai Simón’s World Cup-record run of 650 minutes without conceding. Spain had also entered the contest on the back of five consecutive clean sheets.
Belgium suffered a major blow in the 71st minute when Courtois limped off with a thigh injury and was replaced by Lammens. The Red Devils were already without injured midfielder Amadou Onana, while captain Youri Tielemans withdrew during the warm-up, although Kevin De Bruyne returned to the starting XI.
Belgium pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, with Romelu Lukaku leading the attack, but Aymeric Laporte produced a crucial acrobatic clearance in stoppage time to preserve Spain’s lead.
The victory extended Spain’s unbeaten run to 37 matches, while Belgium’s 18-match unbeaten streak came to an end.
