​Spain left it late again in World Cup 2026, but they booked a spot in the semi-finals by defeating Belgium 2-1 in Los Angeles. The hero once more for La Roja was the super sub Mikel Merino, who struck an 88th-minute winner to keep Luis de la Fuente’s side hopes of glory alive. The Spain manager stirred some debate with his lineup, omitting Pedri from the starting XI and instead selecting Fabian Ruiz to fill the Barcelona midfielder’s role.
The decision looked prescient early on as Ruiz gave Spain the lead around the 30-minute mark. A flowing move saw Pedro Porro combine with Lamine Yamal on the right, delivering a cross for Dani Olmo. Courtois parried Olmo’s shot, but Ruiz was quickest to react and tucked home his first-ever World Cup goal from close range.
Yamal then tested the Belgian keeper with a dangerous free-kick that curled around the wall and narrowly forced a save from Courtois, who pushed it away. The teenager also created another opportunity just before the break, dribbling past a defender and firing narrowly wide of the near post as Spain ended the first half on the front foot.
However, the action swung to the other end as Belgium equaled matters for the first time in the tournament. Kevin De Bruyne delivered from the right and Charles De Ketelaere rose highest to head past Unai Simón for 1-1.
The second half began with Belgium pressing, and Maxim De Cuyper created a good chance early on. De la Fuente then responded by bringing Pedri and Ferran Torres into the fray, while Belgium answered with fresh attacking options of their own, introducing Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel, and Joaquin Seys.
The match intensified as Yamal continued to threaten down the flank and Ferran Torres looked to add a second, but his header went over the bar. Courtois’s involvement took an unexpected turn when he had to depart the field with an injury, tears flowing as he left and Senne Lammens came on in goal for Belgium.
With chances at both ends, it was the Spaniards who found a late breakthrough through Merino. A shot from Cubarsi was only parried by Lammens, and Merino was quickest to react, smashing the rebound into the net from close range to seal a 2-1 victory for Spain. The late goal sent La Roja through to the semi-finals, where they awaited a showdown with France, adding another chapter to their stubborn, late-rescue stories in the 2026 World Cup.
This narrow win keeps Spain’s campaign alive and reinforces their standing as a danger to any team still in the tournament, with Merino’s decisive late strike once again underscoring the depth and resilience of Luis de la Fuente’s squad. As Spain prepare for their semi-final clash, the narrative is clear: they possess the grit to overturn deficits and the depth to call upon impact substitutes when required, confirming their status as serious contenders in the race for the World Cup crown.