Spain Secures Semi-Final Berth Against Belgium

In the 2026 World Cup, Spain emerged victorious in a dramatic quarter-final match against Belgium, winning 2-1 at the SoFi Stadium. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute, but Belgium equalized shortly after with a goal from Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st minute. As the match headed toward extra time, Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente's tactical changes proved fruitful. Mikel Merino, who came on as a substitute, scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute, sealing Spain's spot in the semi-finals and ending Belgium's unbeaten run in the tournament. This defeat was particularly harsh for Belgium, who had to cope with the last-minute injury of Youri Tielemans during warm-ups. Despite this setback, Belgium matched the second-ranked team in the world throughout the match. Spain's solid defense, led by the partnership of Cubarsí and Laporte, played a crucial role in the outcome. With this hard-fought win, Spain will face France in the semi-finals, a match scheduled for July 14 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.