Mikel Merino stars again as Spain edges Belgium 2-1 in the World Cup quarterfinals
Merino scored on a rebound in the 88th minute as Spain extended its unbeaten run to 36 matches and set up a semifinal against France.
- On Friday, July 10, 2026, Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium in the World Cup quarterfinals, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in the 88th minute to advance to the semifinals.
- Fabian Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute off a rebound, but Charles De Ketelaere equalized in the 41st minute, ending Spain's tournament-record shutout streak of 649 minutes without conceding.
- Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois exited in the 71st minute with a thigh injury; replacement Senne Lammens spilled Pau Cubarsi's low shot in the 88th minute, allowing Merino to pounce on the rebound.
- Merino's strike marked his second consecutive late winner as a substitute, making the Arsenal midfielder the first player to score winning knockout goals in two different matches off the bench in World Cup history.
- Spain will face France on Tuesday, July 14, in Dallas for a spot in the World Cup final, extending an unbeaten streak that has reached 37 matches across all competitions.
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330 Articles
Spain's super sub Mikel Merino living his 'wildest dreams' with late World Cup winners
After pouncing on a costly Belgian goalkeeping error in the 88th minute, Mikel Merino reflects on La Roja's grit and why a clinical France will provide the ultimate tactical examination.
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First World Cup Semifinal Is Set
Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 victory on Friday in Inglewood, California. Merino was the late hero for the second straight match for Spain, which will face tournament...
FIFA World Cup: Merino's late heroics send Spain into semis
Inglewood: Mikel Merino is Spain’s World Cup hero once again, and even he finds it hard to believe. A mere four days after Merino scored a clutch goal as a substitute in injury time to beat Portugal, he found himself in the right spot again in the quarterfinals when Belgium’s backup goalkeeper spilled the ball into his path. Merino’s 88th-minute goal Merino booted it home in the 88th minute, sending Spain to a 2-1 victory Friday and into a titan…
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