Spain just knocked Belgium out of the World Cup in a 2-1 thriller at Los Angeles Stadium. It wasn't clean. It wasn't comfortable. But Luis de la Fuente's men found a way, thanks to an 88th-minute strike from Mikel Merino that broke Belgian hearts.
If you thought Spain would cruise through this tournament on pure aesthetics, yesterday's match proved otherwise. This team can grind. Now, they're headed to Dallas Stadium on July 14 to square off against France in a heavyweight semifinal match that promises chaos.
How Spain Broke the Belgian Resistance
Spain took control early on, asserting their classic possession style. Fabián Ruiz found the back of the net in the 30th minute after a slick buildup, validating Spain's opening pressure. For a moment, it felt like the La Roja show.
Then Belgium woke up.
Charles De Ketelaere hit back in the 41st minute, capitalizing on a momentary lapse in the Spanish backline. Suddenly, Thibaut Courtois looked unbeatable in the Belgian goal, pulling off massive stops to keep the Red Devils alive well into the second half.
The turning point came down to management depth. De la Fuente started pulling levers, throwing on Pedri and Ferran Torres early in the second half. When the game looked destined for extra time, Mikel Merino—who had just come off the bench in the 85th minute—slammed home the winner just three minutes later.
The Rematch Everyone Wanted
This sets up a massive collision with France. We've seen this movie before, and it usually rules. Spain managed to down Les Bleus 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinals, but France came roaring back in an insane 5-4 Nations League thriller in June 2025.
Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are about to share the ultimate stage. Spain's high-pressing, fluid 4-2-3-1 will clash directly with Didier Deschamps' tactically rigid, counter-striking system.
If you're looking for the tactical edge, keep your eyes on the midfield battle. Rodri will need to neutralize Michael Olise and house France's transitional speed. Spain showed defensive vulnerability against De Ketelaere and Jérémy Doku; Mbappé will exploit those exact gaps if Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte don't tighten up.
Get your schedule sorted. The semifinal kicks off on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM PST. Expect fireworks in Dallas.
