Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 [1] on July 10, 2026 [4], to secure a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
The victory marks a pivotal moment in the tournament as Spain advances while Belgium exits following a high-stakes quarter-final match in the U.S.
The decisive goal occurred in the 88th minute [2] when forward Mikel Merino capitalized on a rebound from Belgium's backup goalkeeper, Senne Lammens [6]. Merino had recently entered the match, with reports placing his substitution between the 85th and 86th minutes [3].
The match took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California [5]. The late collapse left the Belgian squad in visible distress, as the team had held a competitive position before the final error.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not hide his frustration regarding the defensive lapse. "It feels like a s**t feeling," Courtois said.
Other members of the Belgian squad echoed the sentiment of missed opportunities. "We gave away a goal that shouldn't have happened, and we have to learn from it," Timothy Castagne said.
Spain's ability to maintain pressure late in the game proved decisive. The result ensures Spain continues its run toward the championship, while Belgium must now analyze the failure of their backup goalkeeping rotation during the closing minutes of the match.
“"It feels like a s**t feeling."”
Spain's advancement demonstrates the critical impact of squad depth and late-game substitutions in tournament play. For Belgium, the loss highlights a volatile vulnerability in their goalkeeping hierarchy, where a single error by a backup player eliminated a top contender from the competition.
