Spain Beats Belgium 2-1 to Reach World Cup Semifinals

Here is how the drama went down and why this game made history.

The First Half: Spain Takes the Lead

Spain came out aggressive. They controlled the tempo early on. In the 30th minute, they got their reward.

• The Setup: Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro started a quick attacking move. Porro cut the ball back from the right side of the penalty area.
• The Shot: Dani Olmo took a hard shot.
• The Goal: Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois parried the ball away, but Fabian Ruiz was right there. Ruiz smashed the rebound into the net. Spain 1, Belgium 0.

Belgium did not pack up. They fought back before halftime. In the 41st minute, Timothy Castagne delivered a precise cross from the right wing. Charles De Ketelaere jumped high and headed it home.

This goal was a big deal. It ended Spain's incredible streak of 649 minutes without conceding a single goal at the World Cup. It also stopped Spanish keeper Unai Simon’s personal shutout streak at 650 minutes. The teams went into the locker rooms tied 1-1.

The Second Half: Injuries and Chaos

The second half was a tactical battle. Both teams had chances, but the defenses held strong. Then, everything changed in the 71st minute.

Thibaut Courtois, Belgium’s star goalkeeper, suffered an apparent thigh injury. He could not continue. This was his 21st World Cup appearance, putting him second only to Manuel Neuer for World Cup games by a goalkeeper. Losing him was a massive blow for Belgium.

Senne Lammens, the backup keeper who plays for Manchester United, had to jump straight into the pressure cooker.

Mikel Merino Makes History

Enter Mikel Merino. Spain's manager brought him on as a substitute in the 86th minute to find a winner. He needed exactly two minutes to deliver.

In the 88th minute, Spanish youngster Pau Cubarsi fired a long-range shot from outside the box. The ball moved fast. Lammens spilled the initial save. Merino anticipated the mistake, charged into the box, and tapped the loose ball into the net. It was his second touch of the game. Spain 2, Belgium 1.

With this goal, Merino became an absolute legend. Look at these stats:

• He is the first player ever to score the winning goal as a substitute in two different knockout matches at a single World Cup.
• He is the first footballer to score two match-winning goals for Spain at a World Cup from the 80th minute onwards.
• Just days earlier, he came off the bench in the 86th minute to score a 90th-minute winner against Portugal in the Round of 16.

Merino has played in all six tournament games for Spain but has only started once—against Uruguay on June 26. He is the ultimate super-sub.

The Final Whistle

Belgium tried everything to equalize in the final minutes. They threw players forward. They crossed the ball into the box constantly. Aymeric Laporte made a crucial clearance, volleying a dangerous Belgian chance out of danger.

Spain held on until the final whistle.

Final Score: Spain 2 - 1 Belgium

This victory keeps Spain's insane 36-match unbeaten streak in regular time alive. Their last loss in normal time was a friendly against Colombia back in 2024. More importantly, it puts Spain into their first World Cup semifinal since 2010, the year they won the entire tournament in South Africa.

Spain is clicking at the right time. France is waiting. It is going to be a battle.