Spain 2 – 1 Belgium

Match Report

Belgium's build-up to this quarterfinal was thrown into chaos before a ball was even kicked. Captain Youri Tielemans, named in the starting lineup, picked up a hamstring injury during the warm-up and had to be withdrawn just 12 minutes before kickoff — Rudi Garcia turning to Club Brugge's Hans Vanaken as a late replacement alongside Nicolas Raskin and Kevin De Bruyne in midfield. For six matches, Spain hadn't conceded a single goal at this World Cup. Belgium ended that in the 40th minute, and for a long stretch in Inglewood it looked like they might end Spain's tournament along with it. Luis de la Fuente sprang his own surprise before kickoff, dropping Pedri to the bench and starting Fabián Ruiz in his place — a call that paid off directly when Ruiz pounced on a loose rebound in the 30th minute after Thibaut Courtois couldn't hold his initial save. Spain led 1-0, still unbeaten, still perfect defensively.

It didn't last. Ten minutes later, Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium — continuing his knack for arriving in exactly the right moments this tournament — and Spain's clean sheet, intact since the group stage, was gone. Belgium had chances of their own throughout, with Jérémy Doku a persistent outlet down the flank and De Bruyne probing from midfield, while Spain's Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal tested the Belgian goal repeatedly at the other end without adding a second.

The match tilted again in the 73rd minute when Courtois went down with an apparent injury and had to be replaced by backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens — a significant blow for Belgium heading into a tense final stretch. It proved to be costly. In the 88th minute, substitute Mikel Merino — on the pitch for barely two minutes — reacted first to a spilled Pau Cubarsí shot that Lammens couldn't hold, turning the rebound home for what proved to be the winner. It's the second time this tournament Merino has scored a decisive late goal within minutes of coming off the bench, having done exactly this against Portugal in the Round of 16.

Spain hold on from there to win 2-1 and advance to a semifinal against France on July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington — a rematch of styles between the tournament's most defensively dominant side, now with one blemish on the record, and the Golden Boot co-leader's red-hot attack. Belgium's own remarkable run — a team that trailed in two of its last three knockout matches and won all three — ends in Inglewood, but not without giving Spain by far their sternest test of the tournament.

Match Timeline

• Pre 🚑
  Tielemans withdrawn in the warm-up. Belgium's captain, named in the original starting XI, suffers a hamstring injury and is replaced by Hans Vanaken just 12 minutes before kickoff.
• 30' ⚽
  GOAL — Fabián Ruiz 🇪🇸. Starting in place of the dropped Pedri, Ruiz pounces on the rebound after Thibaut Courtois fails to hold his initial save. Spain 1-0.
• 40' ⚽
  GOAL — Charles De Ketelaere 🇧🇪. Belgium level it. Spain's clean-sheet streak — six matches, since the group stage — ends. 1-1.
• ~mid 2nd half 🟨
  Yellow cards. Axel Witsel booked for a late lunge on Rodri; Aymeric Laporte booked for bringing down Jérémy Doku.
• 73' 🚑
  Courtois forced off injured. Senne Lammens comes on in goal for Belgium.
• ~86' 🔄
  Merino introduced. Spain also bring on Pedri and Ferran Torres late in the match.
• 88' ⚽
  GOAL — Mikel Merino 🇪🇸. Pau Cubarsí's shot is spilled by Lammens; Merino reacts fastest to turn home the rebound — 117 seconds after coming on. Spain 2-1.
• FT 🏆
  Full time. Spain 2-1 Belgium. Spain advance to face France in the semifinal, July 14, AT&T Stadium, Arlington.

Match Stats

• Final ScoreSpain 2-1 Belgium
• ScorersRuiz 30', Merino 88' — ESP; De Ketelaere 40' — BEL
• Spain clean sheet streakEnded at 6 matches
• Merino's decisive sub goals2 (R16 vs POR, QF vs BEL)
• CourtoisOff injured, 73' (Lammens on)
• Yellow cardsWitsel (BEL), Laporte (ESP)
• Semifinalvs France, Jul 14, Arlington

Player Ratings

MOTM

Mikel Merino 🇪🇸

Under two minutes on the pitch, one match-winning goal — the second time this exact thing has happened in this exact tournament. Spain's bench has now decided as much of this knockout run as their starters.