Spain vs Belgium 2026

Spain Edge Belgium in Quarter-Final Thriller to Reach World Cup Semis

Under the gleaming lights of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Spain and Belgium produced a nerve-shredding quarter-final that ebbed and flowed until the very final whistle. Spain struck first when Fabián Ruiz capitalized on a moment of midfield brilliance in the 30th minute, driving forward with characteristic composure to give La Roja a deserved early lead. Belgium, however, refused to bow. Just eleven minutes later, Charles De Ketelaere silenced the Spanish faithful with a clinical finish in the 41st minute, hauling the Red Devils level and sending the two nations into the break locked at 1-1.

The second half became a tense chess match, both sides probing for the decisive breakthrough while wary of leaving themselves exposed. As extra time loomed and nerves frayed, it was Mikel Merino who emerged as Spain's unlikely hero. In the 88th minute, with the tie hanging in the balance, Merino rose to the occasion to bury the winner, sparking scenes of jubilation on the Spanish bench and heartbreak for a Belgian side that had battled valiantly for ninety minutes. The 2-1 scoreline reflected the razor-thin margins of a contest that could have gone either way.

For Spain, this victory books a coveted place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, keeping their dreams of global glory firmly alive as they inch ever closer to the final in North America. For Belgium, the result marks the cruel end of their campaign—a golden generation once again denied at the sport's grandest stage, eliminated with their heads held high but their World Cup hopes extinguished. Spain now marches on, carrying the momentum and belief of a team that knows how to win when it matters most.