Spain 2-1 Belgium LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 QF: Merino's Late Goal Seals Victory And Semi-Final For La Roja

The final whistle has blown at Los Angeles Stadium, confirming Spain’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in a pulsating World Cup quarter-final.

The match reached its turning point in the 71st minute when Belgium's legendary goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced off with a leg injury. His replacement, Senne Lammens, faced immediate pressure and ultimately committed a costly error in the 88th minute, spilling Pau Cubarsí’s low drive directly into the path of Mikel Merino, who tapped home the decisive winner.

Spain now advance to the semi-finals, where they are set to face France at Dallas Stadium.

The tension at Los Angeles Stadium is palpable as Belgium throws everything forward in a desperate search for an equalizer. A dangerous cross from Raskin forced Unai Simón to attempt a catch, but the goalkeeper spilled the ball under intense pressure from Romelu Lukaku. The referee blew for a foul on Simón just as Pau Cubarsí cleared the danger, offering Spain a temporary reprieve.

Spain, refusing to simply sit back, countered immediately. Marc Cucurella found himself in acres of space, charging toward the Belgium box and firing a low effort goalwards. While it tested Senne Lammens, the goalkeeper stood firm, clutching the ball to his chest. We are in the final stages of stoppage time—Spain are moments away from a semi-final spot!

Spain have reclaimed the lead in dramatic fashion! With just two minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Mikel Merino has struck to put La Roja 2–1 ahead.

The move began with Pedri finding Pau Cubarsí, whose low drive was fumbled by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Merino, proving his worth as Spain’s ultimate super-sub, reacted fastest to the spilled ball, tapping it into the net from close range. It is a monumental goal that leaves Belgium scrambling for an equalizer in the dying embers of this quarter-final.

The match at the Los Angeles Stadium is reaching a boiling point. Spain nearly snatched the lead when Rodri scooped a clever ball over the top for Lamine Yamal; however, a heavy first touch from the teenager allowed Kyriano Seys to recover and block the danger before Senne Lammens comfortably gathered the ball.

As the pressure mounts, disciplinary action has been taken, with Kevin De Bruyne picking up a yellow card for his role in disrupting play. Moments after his booking, Belgium opted to withdraw their captain, replacing him with Alexis Saelemaekers. Spain responded with a tactical change of their own, bringing on Mikel Merino for Dani Olmo to solidify the midfield. We are moments away from the final whistle with the score remaining locked at 1–1.

A massive boost for Spain in these closing stages of the quarter-final. Nico Williams, who had been sidelined with an injury, is officially declared fit and has entered the pitch to replace Mikel Oyarzabal. Williams brings fresh legs and explosive pace to the Spanish attack as they push for a late winner against Belgium. With the match delicately poised at 1–1, his return could prove to be the decisive factor in Spain’s pursuit of a semi-final spot.

A major turning point at the Los Angeles Stadium as Belgium’s long-time number one, Thibaut Courtois, is forced off the pitch due to injury. This represents a significant blow to the Red Devils in this high-stakes quarter-final. Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been called upon to replace him. It remains to be seen how the change in goal will impact Belgium’s defensive organization and overall game plan as they look to hold firm against a rampant Spanish attack in the closing stages.

Spain continue to turn the screw as the second half progresses. Newly introduced Belgian defender Kyriano Seys was immediately tested, as Lamine Yamal skillfully cut inside him to create shooting space on the right edge of the box. Yamal unleashed a dangerous, looping effort toward the top corner, but Thibaut Courtois remained equal to the task, producing a commanding two-handed save to palm the ball to safety and maintain the deadlock.

Belgium have responded to Spain's tactical adjustments with a major shake-up of their own. Approaching the hour mark, the Red Devils made three strategic changes to inject experience and firepower into the side.

Hans Vanaken, who stepped into the starting lineup at the eleventh hour following Youri Tielemans' warm-up injury, has been replaced by talismanic striker Romelu Lukaku. Additionally, veteran midfielder Axel Witsel has entered the pitch to replace Leandro Trossard. These moves signal Belgium’s intent to break the deadlock and apply fresh pressure on the Spanish defense as the match enters its crucial final third.

The intensity has risen sharply early in the second half at the Los Angeles Stadium. Lamine Yamal continues to be the focal point of Spain's attack, weaving into the box and linking up with Fabián Ruiz and Marc Cucurella. The teenager came inches away from reclaiming the lead, firing a first-time shot that took a slight deflection past the far post. Moments later, Dani Olmo sent a half-volley over the bar from the edge of the area after a short corner routine.

Luis de la Fuente has acted quickly to refresh his side, introducing Ferran Torres for Álex Baena on the wing. Crucially, Spain’s goalscorer Fabián Ruiz has been substituted after just 55 minutes, with Pedri entering the fray to add fresh legs to the midfield as both sides hunt for the decisive breakthrough in this tense quarter-final.

The second half has resumed with nervous energy and rapid-fire counter-attacks at both ends. Spain handed Belgium a golden opportunity after a loose pass from a free-kick allowed Jérémy Doku to drive at the defense. A deflection off Rodri nearly put Leandro Trossard through on goal, but Unai Simón showed excellent anticipation, charging off his line to intercept the ball just in time.

Spain immediately looked to hit back in style. Pau Cubarsí threaded a magnificent long-range pass to find Lamine Yamal’s run behind the Belgian backline. However, the move was halted by the assistant referee's flag, as the Barcelona youngster was ruled just a fraction offside as Thibaut Courtois rushed out to close him down.

The halftime whistle sounds at Los Angeles Stadium, leaving Spain and Belgium locked at 1–1. La Roja controlled the tempo early, creating multiple opportunities through Rodri, Álex Baena, and Lamine Yamal. Their dominance paid off when a sharp one-two between Yamal and Pedro Porro led to a strike from Rodri; while Thibaut Courtois managed a save, Fabián Ruiz was on hand to sweep home the rebound.

Despite further pressure from Spain, Belgium stayed in the contest. After previously seeing an attempt blocked, Charles De Ketelaere found the breakthrough, outjumping Pau Cubarsí to power home a Timothy Castagne cross. The equalizer marks the first time Spain has conceded in the 2026 tournament, shattering their perfect defensive record and setting the stage for a tense second half as both sides battle for a place in the semi-finals.

Spain looked to regain the lead immediately before the interval. Álex Baena drifted toward the right flank, successfully drawing defenders away and creating a pocket of space for Pedro Porro at the edge of the box. However, the right-back's curling left-footed attempt lacked precision, sailing well wide of the target. With that missed opportunity, the whistle blew, sending both teams into the break deadlocked at 1–1.

The FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Spain and Belgium is level at 1–1 as the referee blows for halftime at the Los Angeles Stadium.

Spain’s record-breaking defensive streak came to an end in the 41st minute. After Fabián Ruiz had put La Roja ahead in the 30th minute following a scramble in the box, Belgium responded late in the half. Kevin De Bruyne recycled a cross from Timothy Castagne, finding Charles De Ketelaere, who rose above Pau Cubarsí to power a header past Unai Simón. The match remains finely poised as the teams head into the break.

Spain have taken a crucial 1–0 lead in this FIFA World Cup quarter-final through a well-worked team goal.

The move began down the right flank with a sharp one-two between Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal. Porro’s subsequent low delivery into the penalty area was met by a quick redirection from Dani Olmo, which forced a save from Thibaut Courtois. However, Fabián Ruiz was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the rebound, sweeping the ball home to put La Roja in front.

Spain continue to apply heavy pressure as the first half progresses. Belgium gifted a golden opportunity to La Roja after a turnover on the edge of their own penalty area. Lamine Yamal pounced on the loose ball, skillfully curling a left-footed strike from 20 yards out. It was a sublime effort, but it narrowly whistled past the far post, keeping the scoreline level as the match approaches the halftime interval.

The intensity at the Los Angeles Stadium is ramping up as both teams trade defensive heroics. Spain threatened first when a precise long ball from Pau Cubarsí found Álex Baena, but Nathan Ngoy stayed sharp, throwing himself in the way of the snapshot.

Belgium responded instantly with a dangerous counter-attack spearheaded by Kevin De Bruyne, who released Jérémy Doku down the flank. Doku danced through two defenders before laying the ball off to Charles De Ketelaere. Just as the Belgian forward cut onto his left foot to pull the trigger from inside the box, Marc Cucurella arrived with a perfectly timed block to deny the opener. It remains a high-stakes tactical stalemate midway through the first half.

The quarter-final clash at Los Angeles Stadium remains scoreless in the early stages as both sides settle into the contest.

The match has already seen some physical intensity; Leandro Trossard avoided a booking following a tactical shirt pull on Álex Baena near the sideline. From the resulting free-kick, Spain launched a dangerous attack: Marc Cucurella flicked the ball into the box, where Fabián Ruiz pulled it back for Rodri. The Spanish captain unleashed a powerful first-time strike, but Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy produced a vital block to keep the score level.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final between Spain and Belgium is underway at the Los Angeles Stadium. Charles De Ketelaere got the action started for the Red Devils, who are looking to break Spain's historic run of clean sheets. Belgium made a last-minute change to their starting lineup, with Hans Vanaken replacing Youri Tielemans, who was withdrawn after sustaining a hamstring injury during the warm-up. Early in the match, Belgium has looked to disrupt Spain’s rhythm by pressing deep into their half, though Spain's rising star Lamine Yamal has already begun to test the Belgian defense, winning an early foul to ease the pressure

Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere

SUBS: Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Arthur Theate, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Joaquin Seys, Diego Moreira, Youri Tielemans, Alexis Saelemaekers, Matias Fernandez-Pardo

Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal

SUBS: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Ferran Torres, Gavi, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias

Spain and Belgium are up for an epic clash. The winner will play France in the semi-final.

Who will win the Spain vs Belgium match? Find the prediction and the head to head stats here.

Spain’s defensive performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been nothing short of historic, as the team has reached the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal in the tournament. This remarkable run, which includes five consecutive shutouts in the current competition, extends a defensive streak dating back to the 2022 World Cup. By maintaining this clean sheet record, Spain has become the first team in tournament history to register six consecutive clean sheets. Central to this achievement is goalkeeper Unai Simón, who has set a new all-time World Cup record by remaining unbeaten for 609 consecutive minutes, surpassing the previous mark held by Italian legend Walter Zenga. This defensive solidity is underpinned by a collective tactical approach led by coach Luis de la Fuente, emphasizing possession and tight positional discipline, which has limited opponents to very few touches within the Spanish penalty area and solidified Spain's reputation as the most impenetrable side in the 2026 campaign.

Belgium delivered a commanding performance in their Round of 16 clash against co-hosts USA, securing a decisive 4–1 victory at Seattle Stadium. The match was defined by the clinical display of Charles De Ketelaere, who netted a first-half brace to put the Red Devils in control early on. Despite a brief equalizer from the Americans via a Malik Tillman free-kick, Belgium’s superior tactical organization and technical edge quickly re-established their lead. The victory was cemented in the second half following a goalkeeping error that allowed Hans Vanaken to score, with substitute Romelu Lukaku adding a powerful stoppage-time finish. This win underscored Belgium’s status as a formidable contender in the 2026 tournament and earned them a quarter-final spot against Spain.

Spain enter this highly anticipated quarter-final clash at the Los Angeles Stadium carrying the momentum of a historic defensive run, having reached the last eight without conceding a single goal in the tournament. Under the guidance of Luis de la Fuente, La Roja have balanced this exceptional defensive solidity—anchored by the performances of Unai Simon and a disciplined back four—with a possession-oriented attacking game led by the creative talents of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Dani Olmo. Having successfully navigated a challenging path that included a 3-0 victory over Austria and a dramatic 1-0 stoppage-time win against Portugal in the Round of 16, Spain appears well-equipped for the tactical battle ahead. Their ability to control the tempo through midfield anchors Rodri and Pedri, combined with the tournament's most organized defensive structure, positions them as favorites to reach their first semi-final since their 2010 World Cup-winning campaign.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and websit

Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026

Stage: Quarter-final

Kickoff Time: 12:30 AM IST (July 11, 2026)

Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California, USA

Referee: Michael Oliver (England)

Greetings, we are back with our FIFA World Cup 2026 live blog as Spain and Belgium face-off in the quarter-final match. The action is about to begin, so stay tuned for all the live updates from Los Angeles Stadium.