Spain 2-1 Belgium — Match Report

Spain beat Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood to book their place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, surviving a tense, physical quarter-final decided by a late Mikel Merino rebound in the 88th minute. It was Merino’s second consecutive game-winning goal after his winner against Portugal in the last eight four days earlier — a remarkable intervention for a man who did not even start.

How the goals went in

Fabián Ruiz gave Spain the lead on 30 minutes, a patient Spain build-up finally cracking Belgium open with a composed finish. Belgium, stung, responded sharply and drew level before the break when Charles De Ketelaere finished on 41 minutes to send the sides in level at the interval.

The second half was a cagey affair with both sides probing without breaking through cleanly — complicated for Belgium by the loss of goalkeeper Thibault Courtois to injury, who was replaced by Senne Lammens. Spain pressed for a winner as the clock ticked down. In the 86th minute Merino came off the bench and within two minutes had won the match: Pau Cubarsí’s shot was spilled by Lammens and Merino, a step ahead of every defender, poked the rebound into an empty net at the 88th.

Belgium, who had also started the match without captain Youri Tielemans (injured in warmup), threw everything at Spain in the final minutes but could not find an equaliser.

Tactical Story

Spain set up to control possession through the centre, using their full-backs wide and their midfield to overload Belgium’s press. Fabián Ruiz’s early goal came directly from that patient circulation. Belgium’s mid-block held firm for long periods and their quick transitions caused Spain problems on the counter, most notably in the move that produced De Ketelaere’s equaliser.

The second-half picture shifted when Courtois went off: Lammens was untested until the crucial moment in the 88th minute, and his failure to hold Cubarsí’s effort proved decisive. Spain’s bench depth told — Merino’s introduction was the winning move. Belgium’s losing run of defensive injuries (Tielemans before kick-off, Courtois mid-match) drained their options exactly when they needed them most.

Standout Players

Mikel Merino was the headline act off the bench, turning the match in under two minutes of pitch time with his second decisive substitute goal of this knockout campaign. Fabián Ruiz was Spain’s metronome in the first half, setting the tempo and providing the opener. For Belgium, Charles De Ketelaere was their brightest threat, and his first-half equaliser gave the Red Devils a real chance before the late sucker-punch.

What it means

Spain advance to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, where they face France. Belgium are eliminated at the quarter-final stage — the end of the road in the United States for a squad that showed genuine quality but could not absorb the late blow. For Spain, the reward is a short turnaround and a semi-final against the tournament’s other main contender. For Belgium, the questions about this generation begin now.

Our Pre-Match Preview

We previewed this quarter-final earlier in the week and framed it as a test of Spain’s control against Belgium’s transitions — a read the 2-1 scoreline broadly bore out. Full preview: https://kickoffreport.com/spain-belgium-fifa-world-cup-2026-preview/

FAQ

What was the final score of Spain vs Belgium?

Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Who scored for Spain against Belgium?

Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring on 30 minutes, and Mikel Merino won it with a rebound goal in the 88th minute after coming off the bench.

Who scored for Belgium against Spain?

Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium on 41 minutes to make it 1-1 at half-time.

Who scored the winning goal?

Mikel Merino, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, turned home a rebound from Senne Lammens in the 88th minute. It was his second consecutive game-winning goal of the knockout rounds.

Where was the Spain vs Belgium quarter-final played?

The match was played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

What does this result mean for Spain?

Spain advance to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, where they face France.

What does this result mean for Belgium?

Belgium are eliminated from the FIFA World Cup at the quarter-final stage.