Spain are onto the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal after defeating Belgium on Friday. The tense quarterfinal ended 2-1 at SoFi Stadium in California with goals by Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere and Spain's Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino.
Spain were in sharp form to start the match and found the breakthrough at the half-hour mark, following the first half-hour period with Ruiz's goal. But Belgium immediately answered before halftime with a header by De Ketelaere. A shocking second-half moment for Belgium with an injury to starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois spelled a bit of danger for the Red Devils, especially after Spain's super sub Merino checked into the game.
Merino pounced on a rebound after replacement keeper Senne Lammens made an initial stop, and the go-ahead goal was the game-winner. Now Spain heads to Dallas, where they will face France in the semifinal.
Spain dominated possession from the opening whistle, retaining and controlling the ball, while spending time in Belgium's half. Lamine Yamal, Spain's 18-year-old phenom, put his stamp on the game despite not being on the scoresheet in the end. He led the team in shots (six) and successful dribbles (four) and was constantly finding gaps of space in Belgium's half and was dangerous on set pieces.
Yamal's efforts were the catalyst for the opening goal between Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz.
It took Belgium just ten minutes to strike back. Jeremy Doku was often a spark plug for the Red Devils, spearheading counters and offering a rival to Yamal's efforts.
Refusing to fold against a dominating Spain, long-time Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne eventually pulled all the right strings to connect with Timothy Castagne for a header by Charles De Ketelaere. De Ketelaere's goal was his third of the tournament.
The quick response fueled the Red Devils' momentum, which carried over into the second half.
Already considered underdogs limping into a big quarterfinal, Belgium's injuries continued to pile up. Head coach Rudi Garcia was already without Amadou Onana, who suffered an ACL rupture during the round of 16 against the United States, and during warm-ups ahead of the quarterfinal, team captain Youri Tielemans was a late scratch after a tweak.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made multiple stops throughout the game to funnel any attempts by Spain to outright dominate the scoreline, including back-to-back saves ahead of the second hydration break.
Courtois outstretched save was his final big moment of the match. The starting keeper tried to finish out the second half of the game, but could not go on, and backup Senne Lammens came into the match. A less-than-ideal scenario for the Red Devils, as Lammens had not played a competitive match since May, and Courtois' exit meant Belgium was without their most experienced backline presence.
Spain's depth ultimately decided the match. Substitutes Ferran Torres and Pedri entered in the 55th minute, adding fresh legs to the attack, but it was the addition of Mikel Merino that sparked magic again. After netting the game-winner off the bench against Portugal in the round of 16, he did it again for Spain against Belgium.
Just seconds into the game, Merino capitalized on a rebound after Senne Lammens failed to wrangle in a shot by Pau Cubarsí. Merino was quicker to react and slotted the game-winner.
"Two games, two late goals for me, but yeah, the main thing is that the team is going to the semifinals, and we are ready for the rest [of the tournament]," Merino said after the game.
"I think this team has a very, very high ceiling, and our goal is always to improve. Today, I think we deserve a little more in terms of chances or goals because we created a lot. But we get the win, and hopefully, in this game, we can see an even brighter Spain," he said.
Now Spain looks ahead to France. The two European giants will face off in the semifinal on Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas. A spot in the World Cup final is on the line, and France are considered among the tournament favorites.
"We came here for this. To play against the best teams in the world. We are confident in our possibilities, at the same time, respecting the opposition. But yeah, one of those games that you dream of when you're a kid, and now we have the chance to compete against a massive France. Hopefully, we'll get the win," Merino said.
Spain opened the scoring with a goal from Fabian Ruiz at the half-hour mark. But Belgium equalized with a header from Charles De Ketelaere. Super sub Mikel Merino provides off the bench once more with a go-ahead goal.
Will this be enough for Spain or can Belgium equalize again?
88' Just minutes after coming into the game, Merino gets the go-ahead goal! Will it stand as a game winner like it did against Portugal? There's still stoppage time to go...
87' Spain also makes a change, and Dani Olmo's day is done. Mikel Merino was the hero once before. Can he do it again?
85' Looks like De Bruyne pulled up a little on a play and has tried to push through. Too much, though, and he picks up a yellow card before being subbed out. Alexis Saelemaekers is on in his place.
78' Spain with plenty of time on the ball and trying to take their time a bit when in the final third. There's a promising moment with Yamal and Oyarzabal, but it's cleared away by Belgium before Oyarzabal is subbed out of the game for Nico Williams.
72' Looks like it was too much of an injury for Courtois to stay in the game. He's unable to go on, and Senne Lammens is in the game now. The Manchester United keeper is going to be tested by fire for sure.
66' Looks like Courtois is able to gingerly get to the sidelines, and that's where the official calls for the second hydration break.
65' Considered a part of Belgium's expiring golden generation, Thibaut Courtois is coming up huge today. He's got four saves already and will probably keep getting his name called again. Especially if Yamal keeps getting shots off at this rate. Courtois is down on the pitch now getting treatment after a stretch save.
The hour mark of the game welcomes three changes for Belgium. Axel Witsel, Joaquin Syes, and Romelu Lukaku are all in the game now, for Maxim De Cuyper, Hans Vanaken, and Leandro Trossard.
55' Alex Baena and Fabian Ruiz are out of the game. Ruiz scored the opening goal for Spain, making way for Pedri, and Ferran Torres for Baena.
55' De Bruyne tries to be the puppet master once again, but the attempt rattles right off the sidenetting.
Two early looks in the second half from both sides. First, it's Doku leading a charge with Trossard alongside him, but the pass is cut off by Unai Simon. Then, Spain's attempt on the other end, a link-up between Cubarsi and Yamal, is snuffed out by Courtois.
46' No changes for either side out of the locker rooms for the second half. While Spain was in complete control of the game at one point, Belgium showed how quickly they can change things.
Spain looked threatening and in control following the first hydration break. An opening goal by Ruiz, spent plenty of time in Belgium's half, and a dangerous free kick by Yamal. But the Belgian's are right in the thick of this game with a header by De Ketelaere. Truly, anyone's game for now.
After five games without conceding a goal, Spain let in their first this tournament. It's immediately followed by some frustration. Pau Cubarsi gets the first yellow of the match for a shirt pull on De Bruyne.
41' WE'VE GOT A GAME. Belgium finally retains some possession, and Kevin De Bruyne pulls the strings with Timothy Castagne, and Charles De Ketelarere is there to head the goal home.
Spain has scored six first-half goals in six games at this World Cup. They're up a goal now, and making it incredibly difficult for Belgium to even get on the ball with their passing and movement.
34' There's blood in the water, and Spain tries to go up on a free kick. Yamal earns the foul just outside of the box and gets the honors to take the set-piece. It's a good attempt, forces a save by Courtois, and Belgium is trying to get back some momentum.
29' Fabián Ruiz opens the goal scoring for Spain! It's been all Spain since the break. Yamal whipping in crosses, and Baena making runs. Courtois makes an initial save off an attempt by Olmo, but the rebound lands clear to Ruiz, and he makes Belgium pay.
Looks like that's the latest meaningful play before the ref call for the first hydration break of the game.
21' It's the Lamine Yamal vs Jeremy Doku show today. Spain progresses into Belgium's half again, and this time just tries his luck from outside the box. It's a heads-up play, and the shot goes just wide of the post.
18' Belgium star winger is trying to make things happen for the Red Devils. He's on the ball, maneuvering, finding the open player, and just a great playmaker.
12' Álex Baena is trying to get shots off but he's blocked for a second time by Ngoy. Belgium needs to be more cautious, Spain is starting to find the gaps.
7' To no surprise, Spain are trying to establish possession early. Though they haven't looked particularly dangerous. They've reached Belgium's half but no threatening touches in the box or final third.
During warm-ups, Belgium had to make a lineup adjustment. Youri Tielemans was injured in the warm-up, and Hans Vanaken has replaced him in the midfield.
Get extra context on these two teams and more in our preview by Chuck Booth:
"Despite both being UEFA nations, Belgium and Spain haven't met in a game since 2016. Belgium lost that game 2-0, but three players who featured for the Red Devils will be expected to be involved in this match, as Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin De Bruyne were all involved a decade ago. On the Spanish side, no one who featured is even in this World Cup squad, a show of how quickly things can change in international soccer."
Belgium had a far bumpier route to the quarterfinals. The Red Devils opened Group G with two consecutive draws. A 1-1 result against Egypt, followed by a scoreless draw with Iran, before closing group play with a 5-1 blowout against New Zealand to top the group.
Their round of 32 clash with Senegal became one of the tournament's standout matches. Belgium trailed 2-0 late in regulation before Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, and Youri Tielemans equalized three minutes later. Then Tielemans converted a penalty in the closing seconds of extra time to complete a 3-2 comeback.
Belgium carried that momentum into a massive victory in the Round of 16 against the United States, a game that was overshadowed by controversy before kickoff.
American striker Folarin Balogun had been shown a red card in the previous round for inadvertently stepping on a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender's leg, triggering an automatic one-match ban, but FIFA suspended that ban after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the case, eventually clearing Balogun to play.
Belgium's federation unsuccessfully appealed FIFA's decision and called the reversal a "direct contradiction" of the tournament's own suspension rules, while UEFA said it was left in "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
On the pitch, Belgium made the controversy irrelevant, jumping ahead with two first-half goals from Charles De Ketelaere and pulling away, 4-1, eliminating the host nation and sending Belgium into the quarterfinal against Spain.
Spain was tested through Group H as the top seed. They opened the group stage with a scoreless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0 to finish atop the group.
In the knockouts, Luis de la Fuente's roster has yet to concede a goal. They had a statement, 3-0, win over Austria in the round of 32, followed by a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16, which extended that shutout streak.
Spain's defense has been the story of the tournament, anchored by 19-year-old Pau Cubarsí and captain Rodri, while Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four goals and Lamine Yamal has gradually found his rhythm after returning from injury.
Belgium's lineup today against Spain has Kevin De Bruyne back in the game after being rested against the United States in the quarterfinal:
Belgium starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy; Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans. Nicolas Raskin, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere
