Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 [2] in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final to advance to the semifinals.
The victory secures Spain a high-stakes matchup against France. This result eliminates Belgium from the tournament and reinforces Spain's position as a primary contender for the title.
The match took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California [3]. Spain controlled the tempo for much of the contest, maintaining a possession percentage of 58% [1]. The tactical dominance allowed Spain to pressure the Belgian defense throughout the game.
The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute [1]. Mikel Merino scored the winning goal after a critical error by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens [1]. The mistake left the goal open, allowing Merino to capitalize and secure the lead for his team.
Belgium struggled to recover from the late deficit. Despite an effort to equalize, the Belgian side could not overcome Spain's defensive organization in the final minutes of the match. The 2-1 [2] final score reflects a tightly contested battle that was decided by a single lapse in concentration.
Spain now prepares for the semifinal round. The team will rely on the momentum from this quarter-final win as they face France in what is expected to be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
“Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final”
Spain's advancement to the semifinals demonstrates their ability to maintain tactical discipline under pressure. By exploiting a late goalkeeper error, Spain proved that clinical finishing is as vital as possession. The upcoming match against France will be a definitive test of whether Spain's possession-based style can withstand one of the most athletic attacking forces in world football.
