Merino late show sends Spain past Belgium and into World Cup semifinals after defence breached for first time
Mikel Merino struck a late winner to edge Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinal, sending Spain into a semifinal against France after the Red Devils had become the first team to breach Spain's defence in the 2026 tournament.
Late winner sends Spain through
Spain qualified for the 2026 World Cup semifinals on July 10 after Mikel Merino's late goal at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The midfielder broke Belgian resistance with a strike in the closing minutes, avoiding extra time. After scoring, Merino circled the corner flag like a matador and pumped his fist, a celebration that mirrors that of his father Angel Merino Torres, who performed the same gesture for Osasuna against VfB Stuttgart in a 1991 UEFA Cup tie. The goal capped a Spanish fightback that preserved the team's unbeaten run in the tournament.
Belgium inflicts first pain on Spain's defence
For much of the World Cup, Spain's backline appeared impenetrable. That changed at 12:42 p.m. local time when Belgium scored the first goal Spain had conceded in the entire competition. The strike ended a streak of clean sheets through the group stage and round of 16, an event that many had described as virtually impossible. The moment stunned the Spanish camp but also galvanised the response that led to Merino's decisive finish.
- Belgium scores the first goal conceded by Spain in the tournament
- Mikel Merino scores the winning goal
Handball incident evokes Euro 2024, but without controversy
A flashpoint occurred when the ball struck Rodri's arm from a close-range header by teammate Aymeric Laporte inside the penalty area. Belgian appeals for a penalty were waved away, with video review confirming no handball offence had occurred. The sequence drew immediate comparisons to the infamous non-call on Marc Cucurella's handball in Spain's quarterfinal victory over Germany at Euro 2024, a decision that still rankles in German football. This time the interpretation was correct under the laws of the game, leaving little room for debate.
Courtois reflects on bitter exit
Thibaut Courtois, Belgium's goalkeeper, voiced his disappointment after the defeat. In comments reported by dpa, Courtois summed up the night as "a shitty feeling." The nature of the goalkeeper drama – whether a mistake or the inability to stop Merino's strike – was not fully detailed, but Courtois' frustration was clear. Belgium exited at the quarterfinal stage for the second consecutive World Cup.
It's a shitty feeling.
France awaits in a rematch of the Euro 2024 semifinal
Spain will face France in the semifinals, reprising the matchup from the last European Championship. In 2024, Spain defeated France en route to lifting the trophy. Two years later, the two European powers meet again at the World Cup semifinals, with the winner advancing to the championship match.
