Spain have booked their semi-final tickets at FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a dramatic late winner over Belgium.
They join France in the last four, with the final two quarter-finals to be played tomorrow.
Quarter Finals
Spain 2-1 Belgium
Spain have returned to the last four of a FIFA World Cup for the first time since lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy on South African soil in 2010. The European champions bossed close to 70% of the ball against Belgium but had to rely on a late winner from super-sub Mikel Merino for a 2-1 victory over the Red Devils in Los Angeles, setting up a semi-final with France.
It was a tale of two rebounded goals that saw the Spanish through, the first arriving on the half-hour mark. Getting down low to stop Dani Olmo from close range, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtouis could only parry the ball into the path of Fabian Ruiz, who swept home into the roof of the net.
The Belgian equaliser just before the break came somewhat out of the blue though. Striker Charles De Keteleare had ripped apart the USA with two goals in the Round of 16 and broke Spain’s rearguard for the first time at FIFA World Cup 2026, getting ahead of his defender to flick Timothy Castagne’s cross into the back of the net with a well-guided header. It ended a run of 510 minutes without conceding for Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon, the longest run of any shot-stopper at a World Cup.
Playing what may be his final game on football’s biggest stage, there was an emotional moment when Courtois departed the field with an injury for Belgium in the second half. The 34-year-old, a veteran goalkeeper of four World Cup’s, was tearful as he limped from the field. His replacement, Manchester United’s Senne Lammens, played a part in the decisive Spanish goal.
Just as he had against Portugal in the Round of 16, substitute midfielder Mikel Merino struck the winner for La Roja late in the piece, pouncing on a fumble from Lammens in the penalty box. The 88th minute winner sets up a blockbuster semi-final meeting between Spain and France in Dallas on Wednesday NZT.
Results
Quarter Finals
Spain 2 (Fabián Ruiz 30′, Mikel Merino 88′) Belgium 1 (Charles De Keteleare 41′)
What’s Next
Sunday 11 July
Quarter Finals
Norway v England – 9am NZT
Argentina v Switzerland – 1pm NZT