Spain edge Belgium 2-1 to set up World Cup semi-final with France

Spain secured a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals at Los Angeles Stadium, booking a semi-final showdown with France. Goals from surprise starter Fabian Ruiz and late substitute Mikel Merino proved decisive for Luis de la Fuente's side.

Match Summary

Ruiz broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, slotting home a rebound after Thibaut Courtois had saved Dani Olmo's initial shot. The goal came after Lamine Yamal had cut inside and fired an attempt narrowly wide. Belgium equalized just before halftime through Charles De Ketelaere, who headed in a cross from Timothy Castagne following an intuitive pass from Kevin De Bruyne. De Ketelaere's goal ended Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon's run of 650 minutes without conceding, surpassing the previous World Cup record of 517 minutes set by Italy's Walter Zenga in 1990.

The match turned in the 71st minute when Courtois went off injured, replaced by Senne Lammens. With just minutes remaining, Lammens failed to hold a long-range drive from Pau Cubarsi, and Merino—who had been on the pitch for only a short time—lashed home the loose ball to secure the win in the 88th minute.

Historic Streaks and Records

Spain extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches, equaling the streak achieved by Lionel Messi's Argentina from 2019 to 2022. The record is held by Italy, who went 37 games without defeat between 2018 and 2021. Spain's last loss came against Colombia, where Daniel Munoz scored the only goal.

Reactions

Lamine Yamal praised the team's character, stating, "It's the character of the team. It's an honour to coach a team so committed and eager to improve." Coach Luis de la Fuente expressed confidence ahead of the France clash: "It's fair to think we can beat France. We're going to work hard for it. We're the only team that has managed to beat them twice. A great team is going to face another great team."

Mikel Merino, the match-winner, said: "I'm thrilled. I doubt it will happen again. We're two matches away from winning a World Cup. It's a dream come true. Hopefully we can achieve it. Everyone is watching these matches. Being able to bring this joy is a source of pride. Against France, at this stage, we couldn't expect anything less than an elite team."

Looking Ahead

Spain will face France at Dallas Stadium in what promises to be one of the biggest semi-finals in World Cup history. De la Fuente's side will aim to continue their remarkable unbeaten run and reach the final.