​Mikel Merino’s late strike set Spain on a path to a World Cup semi-final against France, as the Real Madrid midfielder handed his side a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium on Friday. The stunning finish keeps alive a tantalising quarter-final matchup between the European champions and the tournament’s overwhelming favourite, with Kylian Mbappe ready to light up Dallas on Tuesday.
The moment of heartbreak for Belgium came when their substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens was drawn into action late and spilled Fabian Ruiz’s shot, providing Merino with the rebound opportunity he needed to seal the win. Spain had taken the lead through Ruiz after a flowing move that began with Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal, with Dani Olmo’s initial attempt blocked before Ruiz converted the follow-up.
Belgium, who had endured a troubled buildup with injuries to key players, faced a loss of momentum around the same time as captain Youri Tielemans pulled up with a hamstring problem during warm-ups, compounding their woes. Amadou Onana had already been ruled out with a ruptured ACL, leaving the Red Devils to navigate a near second-choice midfield as they contended with Spain’s ball-dominant style.
Spain’s rhythm was evident from early on. Ruiz, stepping in for Pedri, linked with Rodri to control the tempo, and Yamal, the Barcelona prodigy, curling an early shot marginally wide. Belgium’s attacking threat was not absent, though, with Doku showing flashes on the flank and linking up with De Ketelaere, the forward fresh from his brace against the United States.
Spain did not wait long to press their advantage. On the 30-minute mark, Porro combined cleverly with Yamal, cutting the ball back from the byline to Olmo, whose shot was saved but fell invitingly for Ruiz to lash home. The Belgian defense, exposed by Spain’s quick passing, found themselves under sustained pressure as the quarter-final progressed.
For all Belgium had endured, they displayed resilience and levelled before the break. Kevin De Bruyne released a through ball to Castagne on the left, and his cross found De Ketelaere, who outmuscled Pau Cubarsi and headed home. It marked Spain’s first concession of this World Cup and shifted the contest into a tighter contest going into half-time.
In the final minutes before the break, Belgium nearly turned the game on its head once more. A counter through De Ketelaere found Doku in space, and a quick ball to the far post narrowly escaped Olmo’s reach, keeping the scoreboard in Spain’s favour by the narrowest of margins.
After the restart, Yamal grew influential, testing the Belgian rearguard with incisive crosses and attempts, one of which nearly found Mikel Oyarzabal in a threatening position, only for Courtois to intervene with a crucial save. As Belgium sought to alter the balance, coach Rudi Garcia introduced Romelu Lukaku, aiming to add a different dimension in attack.
The match opened up as Belgium pressed higher, and a handball incident against Rodri sparked debate before play resumed with Spain maintaining the better of the ball. Oyarzabal came close with a shot against a sprawling Courtois, who had already endured a demanding evening in front of his home crowd.
Tragedy struck Belgium late on when Courtois, visibly distressed and hurt, had to be substituted after injuring himself in the 70th minute. He was replaced by Guillerme La, with the goalkeeping situation intensifying distraction and concern for the squad as they sought to salvage a result against a Spain side at their most purposeful.
Ultimately, Merino’s late intervention proved decisive, securing a 2-1 win for Spain and setting up a high-stakes clash with France and Mbappe in Dallas. The result adds another dramatic chapter to a World Cup campaign that has showcased Spain’s resolve and depth, while Belgium’s tournament ends with heartbreak despite moments of resilience and intent.