Spain has secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals by defeating Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-final. The match, held at a stadium in Los Angeles, was extremely tense until the final minutes, but the decisive goal was scored by Mikel Merino.
Match details and the winning goal
Merino scored the winning goal in the 88th minute, taking advantage of an error by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lamens. With this victory, Spain maintained its undefeated record, avoiding defeat in its 36th match. In the semi-finals, the Spanish team will now face France, led by Kylian Mbappé. This match is expected to be one of the most significant events of the tournament.
Performance of young players
18-year-old Lamine Yamal demonstrated an impressive performance, constantly causing problems for the Belgian defense. His attacks from the right flank led to several chances for Spain. The first goal was scored by Fabián Ruiz after Dani Olmo's shot was deflected, followed by a rebound from Pedro Porro's cross. Despite his brilliant play, Yamal could not score himself, as one of his shots went wide, and the second was stopped by an excellent save from Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Yamal continued to be the focal point of Spain's attack due to his speed, dribbling, and creativity, despite recovering from a hamstring injury.
Injury and goalkeeping changes
Belgium's captain and star goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, supported the team with magnificent play for over an hour, saving numerous dangerous shots from Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Dani Olmo. However, before the hydration break, Courtois sat on the field holding his left thigh. After it became clear that the injury was serious, he left the field in tears. Players and spectators from both teams applauded him. Young goalkeeper Senne Lamens replaced him, whose mistake in the final minutes caused Spain's victory.
Semi-final prediction
After this victory, Spain reaches the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since winning it in 2010. Their opponent will be France, which aims to reach the FIFA World Cup final for the third consecutive time. All attention will be focused on the confrontation between Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. The Spanish team, under the guidance of coach Luis De La Fuente, has displayed a balanced and patient style of play throughout the tournament. On the other hand, France, under Didier Deschamps, is also in excellent form, making the semi-final match between these two teams no less important than the final.
