Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 on Friday in Inglewood, California, to advance to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals [1].
This victory marks a significant milestone for the Spanish national team, as it represents their first appearance in a World Cup semi-final since 2010 [4]. The result eliminates Belgium from the tournament and sets up a high-stakes encounter between Spain and France.
The match remained deadlocked at 1-1 for much of the contest until substitute Mikel Merino scored a late strike to secure the win [2]. The goal broke the stalemate and allowed the squad coached by Luis de la Fuente to progress in the competition [1].
Belgium, led by manager Rudy García, struggled to recover from the late deficit [3]. García said the loss was due to bad luck following the 2-1 defeat [3]. The match took place in the Los Angeles area, utilizing the facilities in Inglewood [2].
Spain's tactical shift to bring on Merino proved decisive in the closing stages of the game [2]. The victory ensures that La Roja continues its momentum in the tournament, moving one step closer to the final after a hard-fought quarter-final battle [1].
“Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 on Friday in Inglewood, California”
Spain's progression to the semi-finals ends a long drought in deep World Cup runs, signaling a return to the elite tier of international football. By overcoming Belgium, Spain now faces France in a matchup that will likely determine the favorite for the championship title.
