Spain advanced to the World Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Belgium, secured by a late goal from Mikel Merino. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain in the 30th minute, while Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium in the 41st minute, ending Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón’s 650-minute scoreless streak. The result sets up a semifinal clash against France, who previously defeated Morocco 2-0.
The Decisive Moments in Spain’s Quarterfinal Win
The match remained deadlocked until the closing stages. Fabián Ruiz initially broke the tie in the 30th minute when his shot deflected off Timothy Castagne and into the center of the goal. Belgium responded before halftime; in the 41st minute, Castagne provided a cross from the right flank that De Ketelaere headed into the bottom left corner.
The breakthrough for Spain came in the 88th minute. Following a long-range effort from Pau Cubarsi, Belgian substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens—who had replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois in the 71st minute—parried the ball into the path of Mikel Merino. Merino capitalized on the opportunity, firing into the top left corner to seal the win.
Charles De Ketelaere’s equalizer was the first goal conceded by Spain’s Unai Simón in 650 minutes of tournament play. His previous goal allowed came during the 2022 World Cup group stage against Japan.
Tournament Paths and Historical Context
Spain’s journey to the final four has been defined by defensive consistency. After opening with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, the team secured victories over Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0). In the knockout stages, Spain defeated Austria 3-0 and edged past Portugal 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal.
Belgium’s run was similarly impressive until this defeat. Their campaign included a 1-1 draw with Egypt, a 0-0 stalemate against Iran, and a 5-1 victory over New Zealand. In the knockout rounds, Belgium survived a 3-2 extra-time win over Senegal and a 4-1 victory over the United States.
This match marked a meeting between the two nations, whose last encounter was a 2016 friendly won by Spain 2-0. Historically, Belgium’s last competitive victory over Spain occurred 30 years ago in a World Cup quarterfinal penalty shootout.
Future Trends in the Expanded World Cup Format
This tournament represents a shift in international football, being the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. The expanded format, organized into 12 groups, allows for more diverse representation from across the globe, including the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed finishers advancing to the knockout stages.
For Spain, reaching the semifinals marks their best performance since winning the title in 2010. Conversely, Belgium continues to look for a return to the form that saw them secure a bronze medal in 2018, having failed to advance past the group stage in their subsequent tournament appearance.
Keep an eye on the semifinal bracket. With Spain facing France and the other side of the draw featuring matches between Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland, the tournament is entering its most competitive phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who will Spain play in the semifinals? Spain will face France, who advanced after a 2-0 win over Morocco.
- Why was Thibaut Courtois replaced? Courtois was substituted in the 71st minute due to an injury and was replaced by Senne Lammens.
- How many teams are in the current World Cup? This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups.
- Who were the top scorers for these teams entering the match? Mikel Oyarzabal led Spain with four goals, while Romelu Lukaku led Belgium with three.
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