Spain 2–1 Belgium: Fifa World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final Report

Merino's Late Magic Sinks Brave Belgium

Spain arrived in Los Angeles unbeaten in five World Cup matches without conceding a goal, and for long spells against Belgium it looked as though that record would extend further. Luis de la Fuente's side dominated the ball from the first whistle, with Rodri, Pedri's replacement Fabián Ruiz and Dani Olmo pulling the strings in midfield, while Belgium — already without injured captain Youri Tielemans, a late scratch replaced by Hans Vanaken — sat in behind the ball and looked to break through Jeremy Doku and Charles De Ketelaere.

The breakthrough arrived just past the half-hour, and in fitting fashion for a Spain side built on patient, repeated pressure: Dani Olmo's low shot was parried by Thibaut Courtois, and Fabián Ruiz was quickest to react, driving the rebound home. It was Ruiz's fifth direct goal involvement across his last eight major-tournament starts for Spain. Belgium, though, refused to fold. Six minutes before the break, Kevin De Bruyne picked out Timothy Castagne down the right, whose cross was met by a clever, onside run from De Ketelaere, who headed past Unai Simón to become the first player to score against Spain at this World Cup — and to end their run of 649 scoreless minutes at the tournament.

The second half became a tense, attritional battle, with Belgium growing braver on the counter through Doku and Romelu Lukaku, and Spain unable to find a way back through despite racking up chances via Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal. The pivotal moment came in the 71st minute, when Courtois went down injured and had to be replaced by Senne Lammens — only the second different goalkeeper to appear for Belgium at a World Cup since 2002. With the match seemingly destined for extra time, substitute Pau Cubarsí let fly from distance in the 88th minute; Lammens could only parry the drive into the path of fellow substitute Mikel Merino, who made no mistake to send Spain through — his second knockout-stage winner off the bench in as many matches.

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Unai Simón — A Record Ends, a Clean Run of Wins Continues

At the other end, Unai Simón saw his remarkable run of 649 minutes without conceding at this World Cup come to an end when Charles De Ketelaere's header beat him on 41 minutes — the first goal Spain had shipped all tournament. It capped Belgium's best-ever run of six straight World Cup clean sheets conceded against, but Simón's overall footprint on the game was a positive one: composed in possession, alert to a couple of second-half Belgian breaks through Doku and Lukaku, and ultimately on the winning side despite the blemish on his record.

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Conclusion

Spain 2-1 Belgium. For an hour and a half, this was one of the World Cup's more even quarter-finals, even as the underlying numbers pointed overwhelmingly toward La Roja. Belgium, shorn of their captain before kickoff and their first-choice goalkeeper in the second half, matched Spain goal for goal and came agonisingly close to forcing extra time. It took a moment of misfortune — Senne Lammens spilling a routine save into the path of Mikel Merino — to finally separate two sides that had traded blows for the better part of ninety minutes.

For Spain, the story is one of squad depth: a surprise starter in Fabián Ruiz scoring the opener, and a substitute in Merino settling his second straight knockout tie. For Belgium, there is real pride in a display that ended Spain's extraordinary defensive record and pushed the tournament favourites to the very last minutes — even if the manner of the exit, via a goalkeeping mishap, will sting. Spain march on to Dallas to face France in a mouth-watering semi-final; Belgium's golden generation goes home having given everything.