World Cup LIVE: Merino the hero again as Spain edge Belgium to set up semi-final with France

[h2]Today's match:[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=MHGPEKi5"]Spain 2-1 Belgium (FT)[/a][/b][/p][h2]Live updates:[/h2][p][b]13:10 CET - [/b][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-world-cup-live-norway-and-england-go-to-battle-before-argentina-vs-switzerland/6JbaYZR1/"]Follow all of Saturday's action here as England take on Norway and Argentina face Switzerland![/a][/b][/p][p][b]23:30 CET - [/b]That's all from the World Cup for today and an earlier finish than we are used to. But don't worry, the quarter-finals continue tomorrow with a double-header to close out the stage as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/norway-8rP6JO0H/?mid=UyLHmWuh"]England take on Norway from 23:00 CET[/a] before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/switzerland-rHJ2vy1B/?mid=Wv4IS6zg"]Argentina face Switzerland at 03:00 CET.[/a][/p][p][b]Join us tomorrow afternoon for the build-up towards those matches in our new daily tracker![/b][/p][p][b]23:20 CET - [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a][b] [/b]was the hero of the night for Spain, but Flashscore's Man of the Match was centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cubarsi-pau/UgTrNwCF/"]Pau Cubarsi[/a], who notched a game-high player rating of [b]8.4 [/b]thanks largely to his 89 per cent pass success rate, two key passes, and four successful duels. The 19-year-old put in yet another impressive display![/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/rating/WtG2SIIU/"]Read more about Flashscore player ratings here.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Cubarsi was our Man of the Match" id="db275628-42dd-4ec7-b606-e6a2aae9b372" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="57848a70-faa8-40d4-ad93-5d2538d79ab7" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]22:59 CET - That's full-time, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/belgium-GbB957na/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=MHGPEKi5"]Spain have beaten Belgium 2-1[/a] to set up a semi-final [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/spain-bLyo6mco/?mid=pU0PQ9nR"]with France on Tuesday[/a]![/b][/p][p]You have to say, the best team won on the night, but Belgium sure made it difficult for the Spanish, battling back to draw level and end La Roja's incredible clean sheet run, which extended back to the 2022 World Cup.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="ee1deb7c-e4b1-4057-b829-496c47c157f3" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="2e5b6f84-5daa-4f21-822e-368ed6aaf082" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]Then, with time running out and extra time looming, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a] once again popped up with a late winner to send Spain into just their second ever final-four appearance.[/p][p]The last time Spain reached a knockout semi-final was in 2010, when they won the World Cup for the first time... Read into that what you will. All we know for sure is that the first semi-final will be an absolute blockbuster![/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/merino-pounces-on-lammens-howler-to-give-spain-late-world-cup-quarter-final-win-over-belgium/2aw0VgrA/"]Read our full match report here.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="263f2d55-cde8-43ce-bb1d-45a07baafccd" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="ce8c8b2b-5094-4fca-b26d-33bb68f19012" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]22:50 CET - GOAL! There is time for a hero, and it's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a] again as Spain go 2-1 up at the death.[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cubarsi-pau/UgTrNwCF/"]Pau Cubarsi[/a] first fired in from range and then [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lammens-senne/UFssg7X4/"]Senne Lammens[/a], who only recently came on as a substitute, spilt his shot right into the stride of the incoming Merino, who put it away, and put the result away too, perhaps.[/p][p]It was a terrible error from Lammens; you have to feel for him.[/p][image alt="Spain's Mikel Merino scores their second goal" id="4f297908-a723-4df0-b184-658a12b815a4" credit-line="Reuters / Kai Pfaffenbach" guid="48dd919b-0c67-42b8-a7ee-c629699a2bcc" original-width="1816" original-height="1139" /][p][b]22:45 CET - [/b]Heading into the last few minutes of the regular time now, and it's still level! Is there time for someone to stand up and be a hero before the whistle? [/p][image alt="Spain's Nico Williams comes on as a substitute to replace Mikel Oyarzabal" id="073b6135-3b99-4f56-9c81-c8823e23266f" credit-line="Reuters / Carlos Barria" guid="6a883828-a5ac-4114-b61d-decc5e807c51" original-width="2673" original-height="1720" /][p][b]22:33 CET - [/b]Well, there's been another change for the Belgians, but this one is forced and a major blow for the Red Devils, with keeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/courtois-thibaut/MVExOq3n/"]Thibaut Courtois[/a] off with an injury. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lammens-senne/UFssg7X4/"]Senne Lammens[/a] is on in the veteran's place.[/p][image alt="Belgium's Thibaut Courtois receives medical attention after sustaining an injury" id="46207bdb-5fcc-4109-a75e-7d3c016f331e" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Gary Vasquez" guid="5ef0c3db-c652-4021-84e8-d9b015e4f136" original-width="2300" original-height="1466" /][p][b]22:22 CET - [/b]Coming past the hour mark, and the changes are being made by both sides with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/torres-ferran/AVAVLaLt/"]Ferran Torres[/a] already on for Spain, and the veterans [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukaku-romelu/dCkG0Iw0/"]Romelu Lukaku[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/witsel-axel/2JsUqijl/"]Axel Witsel[/a] just coming on now for Belgium.[/p][p]Notably, Lukaku has come on to score in the last three games... Can he do it again?[/p][image alt="Lukaku's recent performances" id="173f295b-1800-4029-b7f1-2d26fe44deee" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cfee4771-a1ef-4182-8cc6-3d7ece465ce3" original-width="2160" original-height="2700" /][p][b]22:07 CET - [/b][b]No changes at half-time, and we are back underway! Follow every kick with our live audio commentary via the link above.[/b][/p][p][b]21:50 CET - [/b]That's half-time at the SoFi Stadium, and it is 1-1 between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a]. Credit to the Red Devils; they have been largely outplayed, conceded first, but fought back quickly to end La Roja's incredible run of shutouts at the World Cup. All to play for![/p][image alt="First-half stats" id="0e1f9d55-932b-4a47-ade1-c6b48f5e9ba4" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="03d61abe-8fea-4130-a713-b7238fb2e57c" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]21:41 CET - GOAL! Belgium are level as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-ketelaere-charles/2eOa3r1T/"]Charles De Ketelaere[/a] heads in to make it 1-1.[/b][/p][p]Wow, what a response from the Red Devils, and out of nowhere, really! De Ketelaere buried a close-range header into the left of the goal after a good run and cross by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/castagne-timothy/xYfOMcA5/"]Timothy Castagne[/a].[/p][p]For the first time at this World Cup, Spain have conceded a goal! And with that, Unai Simon's incredible run of shutouts at the tournament comes to an end. His 609 straight minutes without conceding a goal at World Cups are a record.[/p][image alt="De Ketelaere's goal for Belgium" id="a0e1a6bc-e493-4da9-a3c8-0fe386c1b795" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (Daniel Cole / Reuters)" guid="67014642-44ad-463d-8815-b48142958e90" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]21:30 CET - GOAL! [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruiz-fabian/l6HSH2Uo/"]Fabian Ruiz[/a] puts Spain 1-0 up against Belgium! [/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine Yamal[/a] did the work down the right and cut a cross back to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olmo-dani/2oVBOlPg/"]Dani Olmo[/a], who fired in a shot which was saved by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/courtois-thibaut/MVExOq3n/"]Thibaut Courtois[/a], only to break to Fabian, who finished with aplomb... and celebrated in style, too.[/p][image alt="Spain's Fabian Ruiz celebrates scoring their first goal" id="b0c822ad-8745-4c4b-b9b8-a24defd17a9e" credit-line="Reuters / Hannah Mckay" guid="eb9f57bb-2ae7-4f13-bddd-698dc88fab4e" original-width="2006" original-height="1380" /][p][b]21:25 CET - [/b]Still goalless at the hydration break, and if you're ever going to have one of those, I guess a hot and sunny day in Los Angeles in an open-air stadium is probably the time...[/p][p]Three shots for the superior Spanish so far to Belgium's one, but nothing from either side to write home about just yet.[/p][image alt="Spain's Lamine Yamal reacts" id="dcfbd4cf-bac1-4067-9980-508c9966ba2c" credit-line="Reuters / Hannah Mckay" guid="ca3825a0-918e-4cdb-9cd8-1fa8d72f1fc6" original-width="3075" original-height="2084" /][p][b]21:15 CET - [/b]The first 15 minutes have gone by without a major chance for either side, and as expected, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] have dominated the ball with more than two-thirds of possession so far.[/p][p]One suspects that is how this match will go - Spain will have the ball, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] will look to selectively counter-attack them with the pacy [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doku-jeremy/lMHcYK4f/"]Jeremy Doku[/a] a useful outlet on the break.[/p][image alt="Belgium have starting the match very deep" id="5dfd05fa-1e5b-472a-979c-006968f15b5e" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)" guid="1cf78476-526a-48e5-8254-e4676cd2835e" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]21:01 CET -[/b] [b]We are underway at the SoFi Stadium! As always, you can follow every kick of the match with our live audio commentary via the link above or with our major updates here.[/b][/p][image alt="Spain players pose for a team group photo before the match" id="b7788bbb-a24e-47c9-8c72-5ea387eb3101" credit-line="Reuters / Carlos Barria" guid="0cd35d78-5a89-4726-8151-ac3d4fac009b" original-width="3693" original-height="2352" /][p][b]20:50 CET -[/b] There's been a huge blow for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] with key midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tielemans-youri/GtkTQyib/"]Youri Tielemans[/a] injured in the warm-up and out of the match entirely! Here is Belgium's revised starting XI, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vanaken-hans/0Cu4qHps/"]Hans Vanaken[/a] drafted in:[/p][image alt="Belgium's revised starting XI" id="a8077e2a-b834-49b2-9034-9e31e353659f" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="2b207ddd-568c-4eb6-b67e-c53e7249ec1a" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]20:30 CET - [/b]We are only half an hour from kick-off in the World Cup's second quarter-final between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] at the SoFi Stadium in the greater Los Angeles area. That means we will soon be finding out who will take on the fearsome French unit in the semi-finals on Tuesday![/p][p][b]As always, you can follow every kick of the match with our live audio commentary via the link above or with our major updates here.[/b][/p][image alt="Spain fans outside the stadium before the match" id="77de437b-9127-4b62-8ece-9ff5ec541cd6" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Kiyoshi Mio" guid="c048a07e-cd4e-4761-b971-50048709728f" original-width="5506" original-height="3498" /][p][b]19:30 CET - [/b]The lineups are in for tonight's game, and there's a huge bit of news, with Spain star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pedri/baBG8QuI/"]Pedri[/a] dropping to the bench. The Barcelona man is replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruiz-fabian/l6HSH2Uo/"]Fabian Ruiz[/a] in a swap that is seemingly not fitness-related.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-bruyne-kevin/MsPs6OI5/"]Kevin De Bruyne[/a] returns to the Belgium starting XI, replacing the injured Amadou Onana, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doku-jeremy/lMHcYK4f/"]Jeremy Doku[/a] also comes back in for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukebakio-dodi/08a9jhm9/"]Dodi Lukebakio[/a].[/p][image alt="Spain vs Belgium starting XIs" id="7b4d2be2-cd77-4c25-8366-f0d5c8b4bd8a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="11148f64-acdb-48ba-a8a4-b600c6a3eb13" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]18:10 CET - [/b]We get loads of interesting exclusive interviews at Flashscore, and this week is no different. Ahead of the upcoming quarter-finals, we have spoken to former players from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/norway/8rP6JO0H/"]Norway[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]![/p][p]Take a read of this week's top exclusives via the links below:[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-exclusive-ex-switzerland-player-vega-says-they-can-beat-argentina-but-worried-about-refereeing/0QHYYjY2/"]Ramon Vega says Switzerland can beat Argentina but worried about refereeing[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-exclusive-tore-andre-flo-on-whether-norway-can-win-the-world-cup-haaland-chelsea/GSbgkvL7/"]Tore Andre Flo on whether Norway can win the World Cup, Haaland & Chelsea[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/exclusive-kirkland-hails-england-s-win-vs-mexico-but-says-haaland-could-destroy-them/67Ioh2F5/"]Chris Kirkland hails England's win vs Mexico but says Haaland could 'destroy' them[/a][/b][/p][p][b]16:25 CET - [/b]We are still a few hours away from today's only match at the World Cup - the quarter-final between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a]. Between now and then, get primed for the fixture by reading some of our best pre-game content below:[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-cup-unai-simon-repaying-faith-as-spain-goalkeeper/tvAZHQS7/"]Unai Simon repaying faith in spades after claiming Spain's No. 1 role[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/why-leandro-trossard-has-been-belgium-s-star-man-at-the-world-cup/l8mVzQGd/"]Why Leandro Trossard has been Belgium's star man at the World Cup[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Winning probability" id="1863588e-3fab-4e9c-84b7-0a3505c7f1a6" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="9c8d04c1-916b-4f1e-ba78-b9bfa6262a05" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b]14:15 CET -[/b] Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the second quarter-final at the 2026 World Cup as Luis de la Fuente's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] take on fellow European heavyweights [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] at [b]21:00 CET[/b].[/p][p]Having seen [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] seal their spot in the last four with a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=jJ5yWPhU"]2-0 victory over Morocco[/a] yesterday, La Roja will be determined to set up a rematch of the EURO 2024 semi-final when they come up against Rudi Garcia's Red Devils at the SoFi Stadium.[/p][p][b]With plenty of time until kick-off in California, why not check out our video preview below:[/b][/p][video alt="Spain vs Belgium (video preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e8c311bf-632e-46e4-b617-efcf2aabe748" id="482841d5-9015-4df2-a0fa-de39d416df53" /][p][b]In case you missed any of it, catch up on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2026-France-Morocco-quarter-final-live-updates/lEp0IsMs/"]last night at the World Cup here[/a].[/b][/p]