Los Angeles: Merino’s late goal sends Spain to semi-finals after Belgian error

By Isla Hartley · Sports Reporter · July 10, 2026

By Isla Hartley — 10 July 2026 — 4 min read

Spain advances to semi-finals

Spain, the reigning European champions, have secured their place in the World Cup semi-finals following a late goal from Mikel Merino against Belgium. The match, held in Inglewood, saw Merino score in the 88th minute after a goalkeeping error, sending his country to a semi-final clash with France. This victory marks Merino’s second decisive goal in as many knockout games, having also scored against Portugal on Monday.

The decisive moment occurred when Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had come on as a substitute, fumbled a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Merino to convert the rebound. This error proved costly for Belgium, who had seen their starting goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, leave the game due to a thigh injury just 20 minutes earlier. Courtois, considered one of the world’s top goalkeepers, was visibly distressed as he departed the field.

Spain’s progression continues their impressive run, extending their unbeaten streak in competitive matches to 36. While their record of 650 World Cup minutes without conceding a goal was broken during this match, their primary objective for the summer remains on track. The team celebrated their advancement in front of a significant Spanish-dominated crowd of 70,000 in Los Angeles.

Match details and key moments

The encounter between Spain and Belgium was their first in a decade. Spain had maintained an unbeaten record against their European opponents in 11 previous games, a streak dating back to a World Cup quarter-final shootout defeat 40 years ago in Puebla City, Mexico. The match kicked off at midday in sweltering conditions in Inglewood.

Belgium’s manager, Rudi Garcia, brought back key players Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne into the starting lineup after their surprising omission in the previous round against the USA. However, Belgium faced an early setback when captain Youri Tielemans sustained a hamstring injury during the warm-up, just 12 minutes before kick-off.

Despite the injury, Belgium performed strongly in the initial stages of the match. Doku, who had previously made headlines during the tournament for returning home for the birth of his child, posed a constant threat on the counter-attack. Spain’s Lamine Yamal had an early opportunity, but his shot went wide.

Spain took the lead after approximately 30 minutes. Pedro Porro and Yamal combined on the right side, setting up Dani Olmo whose shot was saved by Courtois. However, the rebound fell to Fabian Ruiz, who scored. Ruiz was deputising for Pedri in midfield, and Spain had not lost in any of the 48 previous games in which the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder had played.

Yamal continued to impress, creating further chances and forcing another save from Courtois from a free-kick. However, four minutes before half-time, Spain conceded their first goal of the tournament. Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium, with an assist from Timothy Castagne. The move was orchestrated by De Bruyne, who delivered a precise pass to Castagne, whose cross found De Ketelaere to head past Unai Simon.

Second-half drama and semi-final outlook

The second half saw a more balanced contest, with both teams creating opportunities. Belgium’s Maxim De Cuyper had a chance, while Yamal’s shot for Spain went just wide. Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, made a double substitution around 55 minutes, introducing Ferran Torres and Pedri to change the dynamic of the game. As the half progressed, Romelu Lukaku came on for Belgium, and the team looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with one incident involving a potential handball against Rodri that was not penalised.

The match took a dramatic turn with Courtois’ injury, leading to Lammens’ entry. Shortly after, De Bruyne had an opportunity from a distance with Simon out of position, but Rodri blocked the shot. As extra time loomed, Belgium began to drop deeper, allowing Cubarsi to take an unchallenged shot. It was Lammens’ subsequent error, spilling the ball, that allowed Merino to score the winning goal, securing Spain’s spot in the semi-finals. Spain will now face France in Dallas on Tuesday.

The Spain vs Belgium quarter-final was broadcast by the BBC, with Kelly Cates presenting. She was joined by pundits Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, and former Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta. Steve Wilson provided the main commentary, with Stephen Warnock as co-commentator for the match at the SoFi Stadium.

Source: independent.co.uk

Isla Hartley

Sports Reporter

Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”