Spain vs Belgium – FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final
Spain are in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since their triumphant 2010 campaign, beating Belgium 2-1 in a dramatic quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on July 10, 2026. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Thibaut Courtois spilled a rebound into his path, Charles De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute to end Spain’s extraordinary run of seven consecutive clean sheets – the longest streak of any team in 2026 World Cup history – and then substitute Mikel Merino struck again in the 88th minute to win the match in the same style as his previous intervention, converting a Lammens rebound after Pau Cubarsi’s shot was parried. Spain advance to face France in the semi-finals in Dallas on July 15 in what will be one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the entire 2026 World Cup.
The match was defined by Belgium’s injury misfortunes and Spain’s clinical ability to punish goalkeeper errors. Belgium started without captain Youri Tielemans, who suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up and was ruled out minutes before kick-off. Courtois made excellent saves throughout the first half and into the second, but left the match in the 73rd minute with an apparent left thigh injury. Backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens was thrust into the spotlight and, while he made several important saves in the initial stages of his introduction, his failure to hold Cubarsi’s 88th-minute shot gifted Merino the winning goal. For Belgium, it is a heartbreaking end to a tournament campaign that had featured one of the great individual performances of the knockout stage against the USA. For Spain, it is a fully deserved semi-final place against France that sets up the potential match of the tournament.
Match Details
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-Final
- Date: July 10, 2026
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Result: Spain 2-1 Belgium
Goal Scorers
- Fabian Ruiz (Spain) – 30′ (rebound after Courtois initial save, tapped in at close range)
- Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) – 41′ (ended Spain’s 7-game clean sheet run – first goal conceded in entire 2026 WC)
- Mikel Merino (Spain) – 88′ (rebound after Lammens spilled Cubarsi shot – 1 min 57 sec after coming off bench)
Match Report
Belgium arrived at SoFi Stadium with two significant pre-match concerns immediately confirmed. Captain Youri Tielemans – who had been integral to Belgium’s most important moments in the tournament, including the dramatic equaliser and VAR penalty against Senegal – suffered an injury during the warm-up and was ruled out of the starting lineup minutes before kick-off. Thibaut Courtois started in goal, having made important saves throughout the tournament, and would prove Belgium’s most important player for as long as he remained on the pitch.
Spain, as has been their custom throughout this tournament, immediately asserted possession dominance. Their midfield of Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo – collectively one of the finest central midfield combinations remaining in the competition – controlled the tempo from the first whistle and limited Belgium’s ability to build through the centre with any consistency. Lamine Yamal was again a constant threat from the right flank, taking 17 shots in total across the match including eight on target, and Mikel Oyarzabal’s movement continued to cause Belgium’s central defenders significant problems throughout the opening half hour.
The opening goal arrived through what has become Spain’s trademark at this tournament – clinical conversion of a second-chance opportunity after the initial shot was saved. Courtois stopped the initial effort but could not control the rebound, and Fabian Ruiz was quickest to react, tapping home from close range in the 30th minute to give Spain the lead. It was the third time in the tournament that Spain have scored from a rebound situation, reflecting their excellent penalty area positioning and their willingness to follow up every shot with a run towards the goal in case a secondary opportunity presents itself.
Belgium responded with characteristic determination. Despite the absence of Tielemans and the limitations that created in their midfield, the Red Devils found the equaliser in the 41st minute through De Ketelaere. The AC Milan forward – who had scored twice in the Round of 16 win over the USA – found the net once again to give Belgium parity before half time and, in doing so, ended Spain’s extraordinary run of seven consecutive clean sheets at this World Cup. It was the first goal Spain had conceded in the entire 2026 tournament and the achievement of scoring it was genuinely significant. Belgium went into the break level and with renewed belief that they could win a match that many had written them off in before a ball had been kicked.
The second half was tense, competitive, and frequently threatening in both directions. Courtois made several important saves in the early stages to keep the scores level, including a vital stop from Yamal that drew enormous applause from the watching crowd. But in the 73rd minute, Courtois went down clutching his left thigh – an injury that had appeared possible when he required treatment before the hydration break – and had to be replaced by backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The 24-year-old Manchester United goalkeeper was immediately thrust into the most high-pressure situation of his career, introduced with Belgium level at 1-1 against Spain with 17 minutes remaining in a World Cup quarter-final.
Lammens made several impressive early saves – stopping Spain’s attacks in the period immediately following his introduction – but could not maintain his composure in the 88th minute. Pau Cubarsi drove forward and tested Lammens with a powerful effort that the goalkeeper could only parry into the path of substitute Mikel Merino – who had come off the bench just one minute and 57 seconds earlier. The goalscorer who had already settled the match against Portugal with a 91st-minute winner was in the right place at the right time once again, converting from close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
Belgium pushed desperately for an equaliser in the remaining time. Alexis Saelemaekers created one dangerous counter-attack that Aymeric Laporte cleared, and Nicolas Raskin forced a save from Unai Simon with a driven cross-shot from the right. But Spain held on. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory and Spain’s first World Cup semi-final since 2010, when they went on to claim the trophy. Spain’s xG of 2.08 compared to Belgium’s 0.38 reflected their overall dominance, and their 16 shot attempts to Belgium’s five showed how completely they controlled the attacking phase of the match after De Ketelaere’s equaliser.
Key Statistics
- Spain xG: 2.08 | Belgium xG: 0.38
- Total shots: Spain 16+ | Belgium 5
- Spain clean sheet streak ended: De Ketelaere’s 41st-minute goal ended 7-game run (first goal conceded in entire tournament)
- Merino: Scored just 1 minute 57 seconds after coming off the bench
- Merino: Second decisive late winner of the tournament (also vs Portugal 91′)
- Tielemans: Absent – injury in warm-up before kick-off
- Courtois: Left match 73′ with apparent left thigh injury
- Lammens: Backup GK introduced, made saves but spilled Cubarsi shot for winning goal
- Belgium unbeaten run: 18 games without defeat ended
- Spain next: Semi-final vs France, Dallas, July 15
Lineups
Spain
Unai Simon; Marcos Llorente, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Fabian Ruiz; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Substitutes used: Mikel Merino (86′ for Ruiz – scored 88′), Nico Williams (sub), Alex Baena (sub)
Belgium
Thibaut Courtois (OFF 73′); Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper; Alexis Saelemaekers, Nicolas Raskin; Charles De Ketelaere, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku; Lois Openda.
Substitutes used: Senne Lammens (73′ for injured Courtois), Romelu Lukaku (sub), Brandon Mechele (sub), Axel Witsel (sub)
What Happens Next
Spain advance to the World Cup semi-finals to face France in Dallas on July 15. The match is a rematch of their 2025 Nations League semi-final, which Spain won 5-4 in a remarkable encounter. It also potentially echoes the 2024 European Championship semi-final, which Spain won 2-1 with goals from Yamal and Dani Olmo. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the other quarter-final on July 9. Belgium’s exit ends a tournament campaign that will be remembered for the extraordinary comeback against Senegal, the 4-1 destruction of the USA, and the heartbreaking late defeat to Spain at the final hurdle of the quarter-finals.
Watch the Full Match Replay
The complete Spain vs Belgium quarter-final replay is available right here on AllSportsZone. Watch Ruiz’s opener, De Ketelaere’s historic equaliser that ended Spain’s clean sheet run, Merino’s dramatic late winner, Courtois’s injury exit, and all 90-plus minutes of this thrilling World Cup quarter-final in full HD. No spoilers, no cuts – just the complete match from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Spain vs Belgium at the 2026 World Cup?
Spain won 2-1. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute from a Courtois rebound, De Ketelaere equalised in the 41st minute to end Spain’s clean sheet streak, and substitute Mikel Merino converted a Lammens rebound in the 88th minute to win the match just one minute and 57 seconds after coming off the bench.
Was this the first goal Spain conceded at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. De Ketelaere’s 41st-minute equaliser for Belgium was the first goal Spain had conceded in the entire 2026 World Cup tournament. Spain had kept seven consecutive clean sheets across their previous seven matches – a record for the tournament. The Belgian’s goal ended one of the most remarkable defensive streaks in recent World Cup history, though Spain ultimately still won the match.
Why was Tielemans not in the Belgium starting lineup?
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up and was ruled out of the starting lineup just minutes before kick-off. His absence was a significant blow to Belgium’s midfield quality and leadership, as Tielemans had been one of their most important players throughout the tournament – scoring twice against Senegal including the decisive VAR penalty in the 120th minute of extra time.
What happened to Thibaut Courtois during the match?
Thibaut Courtois left the match in the 73rd minute with an apparent left thigh injury. He had made several important saves throughout the match and had earlier required treatment during the hydration break for what appeared to be the same issue. His replacement, 24-year-old backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens of Manchester United, made several impressive saves after his introduction but ultimately spilled Cubarsi’s 88th-minute shot into Merino’s path for the winning goal.
How quickly did Merino score after coming on as a substitute?
Mikel Merino scored just one minute and 57 seconds after coming off the bench as a substitute in the 86th minute. It was the second time in the tournament he had scored a decisive late goal – he also won the match against Portugal with a 91st-minute strike in the Round of 16. His two crucial substitute goals make him one of the most impactful impact players of the entire 2026 World Cup.
Who does Spain face in the semi-finals?
Spain face France in the semi-finals at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on July 15, 2026. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the other quarter-final on July 9. The Spain vs France semi-final is a rematch of their 2025 Nations League semi-final, which Spain won 5-4, and reflects a clash between the two most complete and dominant teams in the tournament.
Can I watch the Spain vs Belgium full match replay on AllSportsZone?
Yes. The complete full match replay is available here on AllSportsZone in HD. Watch Merino’s dramatic winner, De Ketelaere’s historic goal, the Courtois injury drama, and all 90-plus minutes of this World Cup quarter-final at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, completely spoiler-free.
