Spain vs Belgium LIVE: World Cup 2026 result, latest updates and fan reaction | OneFootball

Second quarter-final pits Euro 2024 winners against perennial underachievers

Substitute Mikel Merino fired another late winner as Spain snatched a place in the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Belgium. The Arsenal midfielder followed up his clincher against Portugal as he pounced on a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens after 88 minutes of a tight last-eight encounter in Los Angeles, California.

Fabian Ruiz had given Spain the lead after 30 minutes, but Belgium rallied before the interval and breached their opponents’ normally rock-solid defence through the in-form Charles De Ketelaere. Both sides pushed in an absorbing second half but Belgium’s hopes suffered a serious blow when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left the field injured and in tears late on, replaced by Manchester United’s Lammens between the sticks.

As time ticked down, his replacement Lammens was unable to hold a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi and Merino pounced. Belgium’s afternoon had begun badly when Youri Tielemans, having initially been named on the teamsheet, pulled out injured just before kick-off. He was replaced by Hans Vanaken