Spain 2-1 Belgium: Merino's late strike sends Spain into semis

If you slept through the 3am kickoff, you missed a quarter-final settled in its dying breaths. Spain edged Belgium 2-1, riding out an equaliser before Mikel Merino struck two minutes from time to book a semi-final place and break Belgian hearts.

Result: Spain 2-1 Belgium — kick-off was Saturday 11 July 2026, 3:00 AM Singapore time at Los Angeles (Inglewood).

The storylines

Spain are through to the semi-finals, and they got there the hard way. Fabián Ruiz's first-half opener looked like the platform for a comfortable evening, but Belgium refused the script and levelled through Charles De Ketelaere before the interval. What followed was a tense, tactical arm-wrestle that Spain eventually won on nerve and quality, Mikel Merino arriving late to reward the tournament favourites and send Belgium home a round short of their ambitions.

For Belgium, this is the cruellest kind of exit. Having stormed through the knockouts, dismantling New Zealand and the USA and outlasting Senegal in extra time, they matched Spain for long stretches and had every right to feel a semi-final was within reach. De Ketelaere's equaliser hinted at another comeback in a tournament full of them, but the golden generation's window narrowed once more, undone by a single moment of Spanish composure at the death.

The winner belonged to substitute-hour drama. With extra time looming, Pau Cubarsí — a teenage centre-back playing beyond his years — turned provider, feeding Merino for the decisive strike on 88 minutes. It was fitting that Spain's depth settled it: a squad brimming with midfield control simply had more ways to hurt an opponent late on. Belgium had no time to respond, and the final whistle confirmed Spain's march toward the trophy continues.

The tactical battle

This was a midfield chess match, and Spain's engine room eventually told. Rodri and Fabián Ruiz dictated tempo, forcing Belgium deep and starving Kevin De Bruyne of clean possession. Belgium countered with pace through Jeremy Doku and used De Ketelaere's movement to punish one lapse. But Spain's ability to keep the ball, tire legs and introduce fresh runners meant the late pressure was always likely to come from one direction — and it duly did.

Players to watch

• Mikel Merino (Spain) — The late arriving midfielder whose 88th-minute finish settled the tie and sent Spain through.
• Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) — Kept Belgium alive with a first-half equaliser, showing the movement that troubled Spain's line.
• Pau Cubarsí (Spain) — Teenage defender turned creator, supplying the assist for the decisive goal.

What's at stake

This was win-or-go-home, and Spain grabbed the semi-final berth. Belgium, having outscored opponents ruthlessly since the group stage, exit at the quarter-final hurdle for another generation that promised more. Spain march on as one of the tournament's standout sides, their squad depth and midfield authority now carrying them within two matches of lifting the trophy.

Key moments

• 30' Fabián Ruiz opens the scoring, set up by Dani Olmo
• 40' Charles De Ketelaere levels for Belgium from Castagne's assist
• 88' Mikel Merino wins it, teed up by teenager Pau Cubarsí

FAQ

What time is Spain vs Belgium in Singapore? Saturday 11 July 2026, 3:00 AM Singapore time (SGT).

Where is Spain vs Belgium being played? At Los Angeles (Inglewood).

What is the head-to-head record between Spain and Belgium? Two European heavyweights meeting at the business end, with Spain's tournament-long control ultimately overcoming Belgium's resilient knockout run.