Belgium 1-2 Spain
Spain have made it to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win over Belgium at a packed Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles.
In my SBOTOP preview of this match I predicted goals, but there was little to get the fans off their feet until Fabian Ruiz broke the deadlock on the half hour. Charles De Ketelaere levelled before the break but it was super-sub Mikel Merino who took Spain into the semi-finals with a late strike.
Highlights of the game
In the early stages, there was little to excite the fans in LA as two of Europe’s best teams sized each other up for half an hour, though Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Belgium’s Jeremy Doku both showed glimpses of what might be to come. But it was Doku who failed to stop Pedro Porro crossing for Dani Olmo to fire a clan shot in, which Thibaut Courtois failed to hold, and Ruiz slammed the ball home to give Spain the lead.
Yamal, who was growing into the game, got the better of Doku and was fouled by the Manchester City man, but Courtois saved well from the Barcelona’s man’s free-kick. But Spain, who looked to be cruising into the half-time break were stunned as the Red Devils hit back. De Ketelaere, who scored a double in Belgium’s 4-1 destruction of the USA bagged again with another header from a Leandro Trossard cross.
Spain came out on the attack in the second half with Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal both stretching the Belgian defence, which took a blow when keeper Courtois pulled up injured, to be replaced by Manchester United stopper Senne Lammens, who knew he was in for a busy time. Lamal fired plenty of warning shots as Spain swarmed over the Red Devils defence and eventually the pressure told as Merino, on for just two minutes, scored the winner with no little help from Belgium’s sub keeper. Barca star Pau Cubarsi fired in a shot which Lammens should have held but he spilled it into the patch of Merino who slotted it home and took La Roja into the final four.
Key statistics
With nine shots to two and three to one on target Spain bossed the first half but were undone by De Ketelaere’s equaliser. But La Roja kept plugging away and, with 16 shots to five and seven to two on target they deserved their win, to make it seven victories on the trot over the Red Devils.
De Ketelaere’s first-half goal was the first conceded by La Roja at this World Cup but Spain remain unbeaten in 2026 with seven wins and three draws while Belgium are going home after suffering their first defeat of the calendar year.
What’s next?
The World Cup 2026 betting odds have consistently backed Spain to reach the semi-finals and now they are there, with an eye on the big prize.
For the victors of this all-European clash the next challenge is 2022 finalists France who beat Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembele scoring for Les Bleus, who have consistently looked the best side in the competition so far; but other nations, Spain included, are improving and at this stage everybody has a chance.
Having topped the charts for many years the Red Devils have slipped down to eighth place in the FIFA World Rankings and now they have time to reflect on a good tournament and build again.
On the other half of the draw England face Norway on Saturday and the big World Cup 2026 news coming out of the England camp is that Manchester City centre-back Marc Guehi is in a race to be fit, as he tries to shake off a hamstring injury. Guehi didn’t take part in the final training session on Friday and Newcastle United defender Dan Burn is standing by after his impressive cameo against Mexico. Also in England’s troubled defence, Reece James is hoping to return to right back while stand-in Declan Rice will slot back into midfield, providing he has recovered from a stomach bug which has meant he has been isolated from his team-mates.
And then, on Sunday it’s the turn of reigning champions Argentina who will play the dark horses of Switzerland in they quarter-final in Kansas City. La Albiceleste are the strong favourites to win that one, but the Swiss have already seen off Colombia to get this far.
If you ask me, England and Argentina will join France and Spain in the semi-finals…but that’s just my opinion!
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