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Recap of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Mikel Merino Shines Again as Spain Beat Belgium 2-1

Los Angeles, July 11, 2026 - Mikel Merino is once again the hero for Spain. The Arsenal midfielder scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute, sending La Roja into the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after edging past Belgium 2-1 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. This dramatic win extends Spain’s unbeaten record against Belgium and reinforces Merino’s status as a deadly super-sub.

A Tight First Half
This quarterfinal clash was intense from the opening minutes. Spain, fielding a starting lineup without several big names such as Pedri, opened the scoring first in the 30th minute. Fabián Ruiz, given the trust as a starter, snapped up a rebound with a fierce shot to make it 1-0.
Belgium responded. Domenico Tedesco’s side equalized twelve minutes later through Charles De Ketelaere. The levelling goal came from a cross by Timothy Castagne, which De Ketelaere finished perfectly. The 1-1 score held until halftime, reflecting an evenly matched duel between two strong European teams.

End-of-Match Drama: Merino the Savior
As the second half began, both teams traded attacks. Spain dominated possession, but struggled to break through Belgium’s tight defense. Head coach Luis de la Fuente then brought Mikel Merino on as a substitute.
The move proved brilliant. In the 88th minute, Pau Cubarsí unleashed a long-range shot that was briefly saved by Belgium’s substitute goalkeeper, Senne Lammens. The rebound was immediately pounced on by Merino, who was standing free in front of goal. The goal instantly sparked euphoria among Spanish fans who had packed the stadium.
This isn’t the first time Merino has been a savior. In the round of 16 against Portugal, he also scored the winning goal as a substitute. Now, with two crucial goals in the knockout phase from the bench, Merino is becoming known as a deadly super-sub in this tournament.

Statistics and Key Notes
Ball possession: Spain dominated with around 62%, but Belgium were more efficient on the counter.
Chances: Spain created more opportunities, but their less-than-sharp finishing had made De la Fuente uneasy.
Record: Spain are now unbeaten in their last 12 meetings against Belgium, with 6 consecutive wins.
Mikel Merino himself said his goal was just a coincidence, but he stressed the team’s focus to go further. “We want the final. This is only the semifinal,” he said after the match.

Into the Semifinal
With this win, Spain will face France in the semifinals. The match is expected to be extremely tight, given both teams are title favorites. Meanwhile, Belgium must head home with their heads held high after an impressive run in this tournament, even as their golden generation slowly moves into its final phase.
Mikel Merino is now more than just an ordinary substitute. In the 2026 World Cup, he has proven that his impact from the bench can be even bigger than that of the starters. Spain has strong reasons to dream of their third World Cup title.
La Roja is at its best form. And as long as Merino is in the squad, late-game miracles always seem possible.