Spain's Mikel Merino became the hero once again, scoring in the 88th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over Belgium on July 10, 2026. This victory propelled Spain into the World Cup semifinals, where they will face tournament favorites France on Tuesday in Dallas.
Key Moments in the Match
Merino, who entered the match in the 86th minute, quickly made an impact by scoring from his second touch. He capitalized on a rebound after Belgium's backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold onto a shot from Pau Cubarsi. This late goal marked Merino's second consecutive match as the decisive player for Spain, following his earlier goal that clinched a 1-0 victory against Portugal in the last-16.
Spain initially took the lead in the 30th minute when Fabian Ruiz scored after Lammens parried a shot from Dani Olmo. However, Belgium responded with a header from Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st minute, ending Spain's record streak of 649 minutes without conceding a goal in this World Cup.
Impact of Goalkeeper Changes
Lammens was thrust into action in the 71st minute after Thibaut Courtois exited with a thigh injury. Despite Belgium's desperate attempts to equalize late in the game, including a volleyed chance from Aymeric Laporte, Spain held on for the win.
