Mikel Merino's late goal propels Spain past Belgium

Spain secured a spot in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a narrow 2-1 victory over Belgium, highlighted by Mikel Merino's dramatic late goal on July 10, 2026. This triumph marked a continuation of Spain’s remarkable unbeaten streak, now extended to a national record of 36 matches. The semi-final clash against France is set to take place in Dallas on July 14.

In the match against Belgium, Spain initially took the lead through Fabián Ruiz, who delivered a composed finish after a dominant period of play by the Spanish team. However, Belgium responded, equalizing with a powerful header from Charles De Ketelaere. As the game progressed, both teams showcased their skills, but with extra time looming, Merino capitalized on a critical mistake from Belgium's substitute goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, who had just replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois.

Merino's goal, achieved in the 88th minute, proved to be the winner and highlighted his growing reputation for scoring crucial goals at pivotal moments; he had previously scored game-winning goals in extra time during UEFA Euro 2024 and the Round of 16 in this tournament.

Despite conceding for the first time in the tournament, Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simón made history with an impressive run of 649 minutes without allowing a goal, setting a new FIFA World Cup record, surpassing the previous mark held by Italy's Walter Zenga since 1990.

The win positions Spain just one game away from equaling Italy's all-time international unbeaten record and inches them closer to reclaiming the World Cup title, last won in 2010. Their semi-final opponent, France, reached this stage by defeating Morocco 2-0, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. The upcoming semi-final is anticipated to be a key highlight of the tournament as two of Europe's top teams vie for a spot in the World Cup final.