Late Merino Strike Sends Spain Past Belgium 2-1, Sets Up Semifinal Clash With France

Spain edged past Belgium 2-1 in a tense FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at the Los Angeles Stadium, with Mikel Merino's late strike sealing the win and setting up a semifinal against France.

The second finalist for the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals has been decided. In a high voltage quarterfinal at the Los Angeles Stadium, Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 to book their place in the last four, where they will now face France. The contest was far from straightforward for Spain, and the result was only settled in the closing minutes of the match when Mikel Merino found the net to hand his side the lead.

Both sides played attacking football in the first half
The quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium had eyes fixed on it from the start, and both teams came out attacking in the opening half. Spain's Fabian Ruiz scored a brilliant goal in the 30th minute to put his side 1-0 ahead. The pressure on Belgium's players was clearly visible after that goal, since no team had managed to score against Spain in the tournament up to that point. But Belgium hit back through Charles De Ketelaere, who headed home in the 41st minute to level the score at 1-1. That goal also ended Spain goalkeeper Simon's run of 560 minutes without conceding, a record that had stood out through the tournament so far.

Merino's 88th minute goal turned the tie
The first half ended level at 1-1, and in the second half neither side could find a breakthrough until the 87th minute, leading many to believe the match was headed for a penalty shootout. Then, in the 88th minute, Spain's Mikel Merino got into position near the goal post and unleashed a powerful shot that beat the Belgian defence, putting Spain 2-1 ahead. That lead held until the final whistle, with Merino's late strike proving to be the decisive moment that sealed Spain's semifinal ticket.

Spain to face France next in the semifinal
With this quarterfinal win, Spain's World Cup run continues into the semifinals, where they will take on France. France were runners up in the tournament the last time around, which adds extra weight to this upcoming clash. The semifinal is set to be played at 12:30 am on July 15, as per Indian Standard Time. For Spain's supporters, this win carries added significance given how strong the team's defence had looked through the tournament, with Simon's long unbeaten run underlining that form. Despite a tough fight from Belgium, Spain showed the fighting spirit needed to get over the line in the closing minutes.

What this means for you
• For football fans: The Spain versus France semifinal kicks off at 12:30 am on July 15 as per Indian Standard Time, so viewers planning to watch it live should mark this schedule in advance.

Questions & Answers

1. By what score did Spain beat Belgium?
Spain won the quarterfinal against Belgium 2-1.

2. Who scored the decisive goal and when?
Spain's Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute.

3. Who scored in the first half?
Fabian Ruiz scored for Spain in the 30th minute, and Charles De Ketelaere headed in an equalizer for Belgium in the 41st minute.

4. What record did Spain goalkeeper Simon lose?
Belgium's goal ended Simon's run of 560 minutes without conceding.

5. Who will Spain face in the semifinal and when?
Spain will face France in the semifinal at 12:30 am on July 15, Indian Standard Time.

6. How did France perform in the last World Cup?
France were runners up in the tournament the last time around.

7. Where was this quarterfinal played?
The match was played at the Los Angeles Stadium.

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