Spain edges Belgium 2-1 in World Cup quarterfinal as Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem watch in Los Angeles
Late goal by Merino secures a 2-1 victory over Belgium, sending Spain to a semifinal against France, while a constellation of Hollywood A-listers looked on from the stands.
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinal at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, booking a place in the last four against France. An 87th-minute strike by Merino broke a deadlock that had persisted after Fabián's early opener was cancelled out, sending the 70,492-strong crowd into frenzy and extinguishing fears of extra time.
How the match was won
Spain took the lead through Fabián early in the first half, an advantage that lasted around ten minutes before Belgium pulled level. The sides remained locked at 1-1 deep into the second half until the 87th minute, when Merino fired in the winner to clinch a 2-1 victory. The goal came in a period of mounting tension, with some supporters already bracing for extra time. Instead, Merino's strike sent Spain into a semifinal against France, who had been waiting to learn their opponent.
Star-studded stands
The quarterfinal transformed Los Angeles Stadium into a red carpet of global celebrity. Brad Pitt attended, drawing the most camera flashes, while Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem once again showed their allegiance to La Roja, having also been present at the round of 16 against Austria. They were joined by Noel Gallagher, who had also been at that earlier match. A FIFA-issued document listed further big names: Timothée Chalamet, Diego Boneta, Yura Borisov, and Ridley Scott from cinema; musicians Tyga, Courtney Love, Big Sean, Janelle Monáe, and rising pop star Tate McRae; plus sports legends Pete Sampras, Chloe Kim, Jeff Gordon, Jordan Love, DeMar DeRozan, and Myles Garrett. The concentration of A-list figures in one stadium confirmed the match's status as the social centrepiece of the knockout phase.
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Bardem's pre-game gesture
Javier Bardem, who had already travelled to Los Angeles for the round of 16 and to Dallas for the last 16, made his support tangible. On Thursday, the day before the quarterfinal, he visited Spain's training session at the LA Galaxy stadium, where he exchanged words and took photos with striker Borja Iglesias. The player later posted a picture on Instagram with a caption that read,
for making this place we live in a better world.
Bardem then watched the match from a seat near the dugout and eventually moved to a box with Cruz, family and other invitees, wearing his Spain jersey.
Atmosphere and farewell
A sell-out crowd of 70,492 filled the stadium, which under FIFA regulations was not referred to by its commercial name for the tournament. It was the venue's eighth and final World Cup fixture. Hours before kick-off, Spanish fans had already turned the stands into a sea of noise, with drumming, inflatable Osborne bulls and constant singing set to tracks like Aitana's "Superestrella" and Rosalía's "Despechá". Under a California sun pushing 30°C, the fervour never wavered, even when the scoreline remained tight.
Road ahead
Spain will meet France in the semifinals, a heavyweight European encounter that will decide one finalist. Belgium's exit in the last eight ends a run that had generated significant media attention but ultimately fell short of reaching the last four. For Los Angeles, the World Cup curtain has now fallen after eight matches, leaving the tournament to move on to the final stages.
