📅 July 10, 2026 | By Pulse India News Desk
Spain players celebrate after Mikel Merino scores their second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium in Inglewood. Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo
| Match | Spain vs Belgium |
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026™ – Quarterfinal |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles |
| Final Score | Spain 2-1 Belgium |
| Spain Goals | Fabián Ruiz 30′, Mikel Merino 88′ |
| Belgium Goal | Charles De Ketelaere 41′ |
| Result | Spain advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. |
| Next Match | Spain vs France |
Mikel Merino’s Late Winner Sends Spain Into The World Cup Semifinals
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in a tense FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring an 88th-minute winner to send La Roja into the semifinals.
Fabián Ruiz gave Spain the lead after half an hour, but Charles De Ketelaere equalised before half-time. Belgium then defended deep and frustrated Spain for much of the second half before Merino reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the box and decided the match.
The victory sends Spain into a semifinal against France after another knockout match shaped by possession, patience and the impact of Luis de la Fuente’s bench.
Spain controlled 68% of possession and registered 18 shots, while Belgium relied on a compact defensive block and quick transitions. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute, Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st and Mikel Merino came off the bench to score the winner in the 88th minute. Thibaut Courtois was also forced off injured in the second half, with Senne Lammens replacing him during Spain’s strongest spell of pressure.
Spain 2-1 Belgium: Match Review
Spain established control early through Rodri and Fabián Ruiz, circulating the ball patiently and forcing Belgium into a deep defensive shape. Lamine Yamal repeatedly moved inside from the right while Dani Olmo searched for space between Belgium’s midfield and defensive lines.
Belgium were comfortable without the ball. Nicolas Raskin and Hans Vanaken protected central areas, while Jérémy Doku remained the main outlet whenever the Red Devils regained possession. The tactical pattern was clear: Spain dominated territory, Belgium waited for transition moments.
⚽ Fabián Ruiz Opens The Scoring
Spain’s pressure was rewarded in the 30th minute. A dangerous effort forced Thibaut Courtois into action, but Belgium failed to clear the loose ball and Fabián Ruiz reacted quickly inside the penalty area to finish from close range.
Spain’s Fabián Ruiz scores during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal as Belgium defenders and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois attempt to stop the attack.
The goal reflected Spain’s control of the opening half, with Belgium spending long periods close to their own penalty area.
⚽ Charles De Ketelaere Brings Belgium Level
Belgium struck back in the 41st minute with one of their few clean attacking moves. Timothy Castagne delivered into the area and Charles De Ketelaere found the finish to beat Unai Simón and make it 1-1.
Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere scores his side’s opening goal as Spain defender Pau Cubarsí and goalkeeper Unai Simón defend during the World Cup quarterfinal in Inglewood. Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo
The equaliser came against the flow of the match but showed Belgium’s ability to punish Spain from limited opportunities.
Spain Increase The Pressure After Half-Time
Spain continued to dominate the ball after the break, but Belgium remained compact through the centre. Yamal attacked from the right while Spain tried to move the defensive block from side to side with quicker passing.
Luis de la Fuente introduced Pedri and Ferran Torres in the 54th minute to increase the tempo. Belgium responded with Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel, hoping to find a stronger outlet against Spain’s advanced defensive line.
The match remained level, but Spain gradually forced Belgium deeper and created more second-ball situations around the box.
🚑 Courtois Injury Changes The Final Phase
Belgium suffered a major setback in the 71st minute when Thibaut Courtois was forced off injured. Senne Lammens replaced him and entered under immediate pressure as Spain increased the intensity of their attacks.
It was a difficult situation for the replacement goalkeeper, with Spain already controlling territory and pushing more players into advanced positions.
⚽ Mikel Merino Scores The 88th-Minute Winner
Nico Williams added more direct pace from the left before Mikel Merino replaced Dani Olmo in the 85th minute. Three minutes later, the substitute decided the quarterfinal.
Spain kept the ball alive around the Belgium penalty area and Lammens could not fully remove the danger. Merino reacted quickest to the loose ball and finished to give Spain a 2-1 lead.
Spain’s Mikel Merino scores his side’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Belgium in Inglewood. Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo
Merino had been on the pitch for only three minutes. His goal sparked wild celebrations and sent Spain into the semifinals.
Spain players celebrate after Mikel Merino scores their second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium in Inglewood. Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo
Spain vs Belgium Match Timeline
Spain took the lead in the 30th minute when Fabián Ruiz converted a loose ball inside the Belgium penalty area. Belgium responded in the 41st minute as Charles De Ketelaere finished from Timothy Castagne’s delivery to send the teams into the break level.
Spain increased the tempo after half-time with Pedri and Ferran Torres introduced in the 54th minute. Belgium added Romelu Lukaku and Axel Witsel as the match became more stretched.
The major turning point arrived in the 71st minute when Courtois was forced off injured and Senne Lammens replaced him. Nico Williams later added more pace on the left before Merino entered in the 85th minute.
Only three minutes later, Merino scored Spain’s winning goal. Belgium pushed forward in stoppage time, but La Roja protected the 2-1 lead and secured a semifinal place.
🔎 Tactical Analysis
Spain’s midfield control was the foundation of the performance. Rodri dictated the rhythm while Ruiz supported progression and moved forward aggressively when space opened. Yamal’s movement inside from the right repeatedly narrowed Belgium’s defensive shape.
Belgium’s low block worked for long periods. Raskin and Vanaken protected central areas and forced Spain to attack around the outside, while Doku provided a threat on the break. However, Belgium’s defensive workload increased as the match progressed.
Pedri changed Spain’s tempo after coming on, and Nico Williams stretched the pitch from the left. With Yamal operating on the opposite side, Belgium were forced to defend the full width of the field.
Spain did not break Belgium with one dramatic tactical switch. They gradually increased the pressure, moved the ball faster and used their bench to create more attacking variety. Merino’s winner was the result of that sustained territorial control.
📋 Formations & Starting XIs
Starting XI: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Approach: Spain controlled possession through Rodri and Ruiz, used Olmo between the lines and encouraged Yamal to move inside from the right.
Starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Nicolas Raskin, Hans Vanaken; Jérémy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard; Charles De Ketelaere.
Approach: Belgium defended in a compact low block and looked to attack quickly through Doku and De Ketelaere. Hans Vanaken started after Youri Tielemans was injured during the warm-up.
📈 Key Match Statistics
| Statistic | Spain | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 2 | 1 |
| Possession | 68% | 32% |
| Total Shots | 18 | 5 |
| Shots On Target | 8 | 2 |
| Completed Passes | 608 | 239 |
| Passing Accuracy | 91% | 81% |
| Corners | 5 | 1 |
| Fouls | 13 | 18 |
| Saves | 1 | 6 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
⭐ Top Performers
Mikel Merino: Scored the winning goal three minutes after coming on.
Fabián Ruiz: Opened the scoring and helped Spain control midfield.
Rodri: Dictated the pace and kept Spain in control of central areas.
Charles De Ketelaere: Took Belgium’s best chance and scored the equaliser.
Thibaut Courtois: Made important saves before injury forced him off.
What This Means For Spain
Spain are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after another performance built on possession and squad depth. Belgium made the match difficult, but De la Fuente’s substitutions eventually changed the attacking rhythm.
Pedri added creativity, Nico Williams stretched the defence and Merino delivered the winning goal. Spain now face France in a semifinal that will present a very different tactical challenge.
What This Means For Belgium
Belgium leave the tournament after pushing Spain to the closing minutes. The Red Devils had only 32% possession and created five shots, but their defensive structure kept the match level until the 88th minute.
De Ketelaere’s equaliser showed Belgium’s ability to punish opponents from limited opportunities, while Courtois’s injury became a major setback during Spain’s strongest spell of pressure.
Spain vs France Semifinal Is Set
Spain will now face France in one of the biggest matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026. La Roja are likely to dominate possession through Rodri and Pedri, while France will threaten the spaces that appear when Spain’s full-backs and defensive line move forward.
After surviving Belgium’s low block, Spain now face a faster and more physical opponent with a completely different transition threat.
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Follow Pulse India News for the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal reviews, semifinal previews, match results and tactical analysis.
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in a tense World Cup quarterfinal that remained level until the closing minutes. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring, Charles De Ketelaere equalised and Belgium’s compact shape kept Spain frustrated for much of the match.
Spain’s deeper bench eventually made the difference. Pedri and Nico Williams increased the attacking tempo before Mikel Merino came on and scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute.
La Roja advance to face France in the semifinals, while Belgium leave the tournament after a disciplined performance that came within minutes of forcing extra time.
Spain Goals: Fabián Ruiz 30′, Mikel Merino 88′
Belgium Goal: Charles De Ketelaere 41′
Match Hero: Mikel Merino ⭐
Major Turning Point: Thibaut Courtois forced off injured in the 71st minute
Spain Status: Advanced to Semifinals
Belgium Status: Eliminated
Spain Next Match: France
FIFA World Cup 2026 Spain vs Belgium Belgium vs Spain Spain 2-1 Belgium World Cup Quarterfinal Mikel Merino Fabián Ruiz Charles De Ketelaere Lamine Yamal Rodri Pedri Thibaut Courtois Spain Semifinals Spain vs France
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