INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In an outcome that felt inevitable for most of the game, Spain beat Belgium 2-1 with a late goal from a familiar face Friday.
World Cup 2026
Mikel Merino, the matchwinner in the round of 16 against Portugal, pounced on a spilled save by Belgium backup Senne Lammens to finish into the roof of the net at Los Angeles Stadium and send Spain into the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup for only the second time.
– Injured Courtois exits in tears before Spain winner
With the win, Spain also extended their own unbeaten run to a new team record of 36 games — one short of Italy’s all-time record of 37 — to set up a juicy semifinal matchup with France on Tuesday.
Match Details
“It will be a clash of giants,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said through a translator.
Merino came on in the 86th minute and scored on his second touch of the match, having also gotten the winning goal as a substitute against Portugal.
“I’ve done this again, and it’s happened to me again, so it would seem that coincidence exists,” a smiling Merino said. “If you’re ready and you try, it can happen for you. I’m very, very pleased.”
Tournament Impact
Lammens was only in the game because Belgium No. 1 Thibaut Courtois was substituted with an apparent injury in the 71st minute and the Manchester United stopper should have done better in saving Pau Cubarsi’s long-distance shot, which he could only spill into the path of an onrushing Merino.
De la Fuente had made one big change to his starting lineup against Belgium, with Fabián Ruiz getting the nod over Pedri. And the move paid off just after the first-half hydration break when Ruiz pounced on a rebound to give Spain the lead.
“We know what these players will give us when we put them in,” De la Fuente said after the game. “Pedri and Fabian are some of the best players in the world. We take these decisions and we have to consider the rival and we have to contemplate where the player will fit in, always.
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