Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal: Super-Sub Merino Breaks Belgian Hearts Again

Some players just have a knack for the big moment, and in this year’s tournament, that player is Mikel Merino. The Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, played Friday, July 10, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, ended 2-1 to Spain, with Merino once again proving to be the difference off the bench in a dramatic finish.

Belgium fought valiantly and matched Spain for long stretches, even after losing their captain and starting goalkeeper to injury before and during the match. But in the end, a costly late error proved too much to overcome against relentless Spanish pressure.                                                                                                                                                   

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• A Quarterfinal Full of Twists
• Belgium’s Costly Injuries
• How the Goals Unfolded
• Merino’s Super-Sub Heroics
• The Numbers Behind the Result
• A Rivalry Renewed
• What Comes Next for Spain
• Final Thoughts

A Quarterfinal Full of Twists

Both sides arrived in Los Angeles with something to prove in this Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal. Spain, the European champions, entered on the back of a dramatic Round of 16 win over Portugal and an extraordinary unbeaten streak stretching back to March 2024 — 35 matches without a defeat in regulation time.

Belgium, meanwhile, were back in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since finishing third in 2018, riding their own unbeaten run of 18 matches dating back to March 2025 and a convincing 4-1 win over co-hosts USA in the previous round.

Belgium’s Costly Injuries                                                                                   

Belgium’s afternoon was complicated before a ball was even kicked. Captain Youri Tielemans was ruled out after picking up an injury during the warmup, forcing a late reshuffle to their starting lineup and robbing them of one of their most experienced leaders.

The bad luck continued as the match wore on. Star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had been in inspired form throughout the tournament, was forced off with injury in the second half, bringing on backup Senne Lammens at the worst possible time for this Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal.

How the Goals Unfolded

Spain took the lead in the 30th minute through Fabian Ruiz, who found a tight finish from inside the box to give La Roja a deserved opening goal after a period of sustained pressure. It looked, at that point, like Spain might be cruising toward a comfortable win.

Belgium had other ideas. Just before the halftime whistle, Charles De Ketelaere rose to power home a brilliant header, leveling the score at 1-1 and giving the Red Devils real belief heading into the second half. It was De Ketelaere’s continuation of an outstanding individual tournament, and it set up a tense final 45 minutes.

Merino’s Super-Sub Heroics                                                                             

With the match delicately poised, Spain turned to substitute Mikel Merino in the 86th minute — and once again, he delivered. In the 88th minute, Pedri played the ball across to Pau Cubarsi, whose low shot goalward was spilled by the stand-in Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens straight into Merino’s path. The Arsenal midfielder tapped home from close range to hand Spain a dramatic late lead.

It marked the second consecutive World Cup knockout match in which Merino had scored the winning goal as a substitute, following his stoppage-time strike against Portugal in the Round of 16. Remarkably, those are the only two occasions in Spain’s World Cup history of a substitute scoring the winning goal in a knockout match — and Merino has now done it twice in a row.

Belgium pushed hard for a late equalizer, but couldn’t find a way through, and the final whistle confirmed a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat for Rudi Garcia’s side.

The Numbers Behind the Result

This Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal lived up to its billing as a genuine contest between two in-form sides. Spain’s extended unbeaten run continued at 36 matches without a regulation-time defeat, while Belgium’s own 18-match unbeaten streak came to an end at the worst possible moment.

A few other numbers stand out from the match:

• Mikel Oyarzabal entered the game with four goals already at this World Cup, quietly established as one of Spain’s most effective attacking threats.
• Lamine Yamal, despite his reputation, had a relatively subdued tournament coming into this match, with just one goal and no assists across his first five appearances.
• Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku had already become the first player in World Cup history to score as a substitute in four separate matches earlier in the tournament, underlining Belgium’s dangerous bench options even without finding a way through this time.

A Rivalry Renewed

This wasn’t the first time Spain and Belgium had squared off with a place in the World Cup last four on the line. Friday’s match marked the 23rd all-time meeting between the two nations and their third at a World Cup.

Their first World Cup meeting came all the way back in 1986, also at the quarterfinal stage, when Belgium won on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Their second meeting arrived four years later in the group stage, with Spain winning 2-1. This latest chapter in the Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal rivalry swings their head-to-head World Cup record back in Spain’s favor heading into the semifinals.

What Comes Next for Spain

Spain now advances to face France in the semifinals, with the blockbuster tie scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, at 3 p.m. ET in Dallas. France arrived at this stage first, having beaten Morocco 2-0 earlier in the week to remain perfect through five matches so far this tournament.

It sets up a mouthwatering rematch of the 2024 European Championship semifinal, a match Spain won 2-1 on their way to lifting that trophy — adding even more intrigue to what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the entire World Cup.

For Belgium, the tournament ends in Los Angeles, but their run to the quarterfinals — including that emphatic win over co-hosts USA — will be remembered as one of the most encouraging campaigns for Belgian football in recent years.

Want more on the road to the final? Check out our complete World Cup 2026 semifinal schedule and preview and our Spain vs France showdown preview for more on what’s coming next.

For official match statistics and reports, you can also refer to FIFA’s official match centre and ESPN’s World Cup coverage for independent analysis.

Final Thoughts

 

The Spain vs Belgium World Cup 2026 quarterfinal will be remembered as a tense, injury-affected battle between two of the tournament’s form teams, ultimately decided by Mikel Merino’s uncanny knack for delivering when his side needs him most. Belgium can leave with real pride after a courageous campaign, while Spain marches on toward a blockbuster semifinal date with France in Dallas.