“Fabián Ruiz opens the scoring by following up after Courtois saved Dani Olmo's shot, slotting home the rebound from the centre of the box to give Spain a deserved lead.”
Pivotal“Charles De Ketelaere restores parity against the run of play, timing a header perfectly from the centre of the box to level at 1-1 just before half-time and give Belgium a lifeline.”
Pivotal“Mikel Merino, on the pitch for barely two minutes, fires Spain back in front with a clinical left-footed finish from close range into the top left corner after Lammens had parried Cubarsí's effort — a substitute's moment to remember on the World Cup stage.”
Pivotal
Spain
Belgium
Spain were in control for long stretches of this World Cup last-16 tie, finishing with 68% possession, 17 shots to Belgium's five, and a staggering 85 dangerous attacks compared to Belgium's 25 — yet they were made to work far harder than those numbers suggest for their place in the quarter-finals. Fabián Ruiz broke the deadlock on 30 minutes, converting a rebound after Courtois had pushed out Dani Olmo's shot, but Belgium stunned La Roja with an equaliser just 11 minutes later, De Ketelaere timing a header perfectly to level things up and send the teams in level at the break. Spain resumed their dominance in the second half, both sides making multiple tactical substitutions as the match entered its final phase, with Courtois's replacement Senne Lammens — on since the 71st minute — making six saves in total to keep Belgium alive. It was ultimately Mikel Merino, introduced in the 86th minute, who broke Belgian hearts, converting a close-range rebound in the 88th minute after Lammens had parried Cubarsí's shot, sending Spain into the last eight in dramatic fashion and condemning a Belgium side that battled hard but simply could not live with Spain's relentless pressure across 90 minutes.
How entertaining was this match?
Nicolas Raskin commits a foul for Belgium.
Mikel Merino wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Jérémy Doku wins a free kick for Belgium in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Aymeric Laporte of Spain.
Aymeric LaporteYellow CardAymeric Laporte of Spain receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Jérémy Doku commits a handball for Belgium.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 7 minutes of added time.
Axel Witsel from Belgium is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mikel Merino of Spain.
Goal! Mikel Merino scores for Spain with a left-footed shot from very close range into the top left corner. The score is now Spain 2, Belgium 1.
Pau Cubarsí's right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Senne Lammens. The attempt was assisted by Pedri.
Substitution for Belgium: Alexis Saelemaekers comes on for Kevin De Bruyne.
Substitution for Spain: Mikel Merino comes on for Dani Olmo.
Kevin De BruyneYellow CardKevin De Bruyne of Belgium receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul committed by Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium.
Ferran Torres wins a free kick for Spain in the attacking half.
Kevin De Bruyne's left-footed shot from over 35 yards is blocked.
Nicolas Raskin commits a foul for Belgium.
Pau Cubarsí from Spain is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution for Spain: Nico Williams comes on for Mikel Oyarzabal.
Jérémy Doku wins a free kick for Belgium in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Pedro Porro of Spain.
Nicolas Raskin wins a free kick for Belgium on the left wing.
Foul committed by Pedro Porro of Spain.
Pedri from Spain is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Axel Witsel commits a foul for Belgium.
Lamine Yamal's left-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Dani Olmo provided the assist.
Marc Cucurella is caught offside for Spain.
Substitution for Belgium: Senne Lammens comes on for Thibaut Courtois due to an injury.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Foul committed by Jérémy Doku of Belgium.
Pedro Porro wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Thibaut Courtois from Belgium.
Jérémy Doku wins a free kick for Belgium in the defensive half.
Pedro Porro commits a foul for Spain.
Nicolas Raskin commits a foul for Belgium.
Dani Olmo wins a free kick for Spain in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne's right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the middle of the goal by Unai Simón.
Attempt saved. Mikel Oyarzabal's right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Spain wins a corner after Nathan Ngoy concedes.
Substitution for Belgium: Joaquin Seys comes on for Maxim De Cuyper.
Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Thibaut Courtois. The shot was assisted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
Substitution for Belgium: Romelu Lukaku comes on for Hans Vanaken.
Substitution for Belgium: Axel Witsel comes on for Leandro Trossard.
Jérémy Doku of Belgium wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lamine Yamal commits a foul for Spain.
Substitution for Spain: Pedri comes on for Fabián Ruiz.
Maxim De Cuyper from Belgium attempts a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it goes just wide to the left.
Substitution for Spain: Ferran Torres comes on for Álex Baena.
Dani Olmo of Spain misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from outside the box after a corner, sending the ball too high.
Lamine Yamal's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Marc Cucurella.
Corner awarded to Spain after a concession by Brandon Mechele.
Nicolas Raskin commits a foul for Belgium.
Álex Baena wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Belgium wins a corner after Aymeric Laporte concedes.
Foul by Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium.
Fabián Ruiz from Spain wins a free kick on the left wing.
Lamine Yamal is caught offside for Spain.
Brandon Mechele commits a foul for Belgium.
Dani Olmo wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Leandro Trossard from Belgium wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Marc Cucurella commits a foul for Spain.
The second half begins with the match tied at 1-1 between Spain and Belgium.
First half ends with the score at Spain 1, Belgium 1.
The first half ends with the score tied at 1-1 between Spain and Belgium.
Nicolas Raskin of Belgium is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Mikel Oyarzabal commits a foul for Spain.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Dani Olmo from Spain.
Attempt blocked. Fabián Ruiz's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Rodri provided the assist.
Spain wins a corner after Kevin De Bruyne concedes.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 5 minutes of added time.
Spain wins a corner after Brandon Mechele concedes.
Pedro Porro from Spain misses the attempt with a left-footed shot from outside the box, sending it high and wide to the left. He was assisted by Álex Baena.
Maxim De Cuyper commits a foul for Belgium.
Lamine Yamal from Spain wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Pau Cubarsí of Spain commits a handball.
Pau CubarsíYellow CardPau Cubarsí from Spain receives a yellow card for handball.
assist: Timothy Castagne
Goal! The score is now 1-1 as Charles De Ketelaere scores for Belgium with a header from the center of the box.
Attempt missed by Lamine Yamal from Spain, who took a left-footed shot from the right side of the box.
Offside against Belgium. Charles De Ketelaere is flagged for offside.
Álex Baena commits a handball for Spain.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Spain wins a corner after Jérémy Doku concedes.
Delay in the match in Spain.
Attempt saved. Lamine Yamal's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Foul committed by Jérémy Doku of Belgium.
Lamine Yamal of Spain wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Timothy Castagne from Belgium.
Goal! Spain leads 1-0 against Belgium. Fabián Ruiz scores for Spain with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Dani Olmo's right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved by Thibaut Courtois in the center of the goal. The attempt was assisted by Pedro Porro.
Timothy Castagne of Belgium wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Álex Baena commits a foul for Spain.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
Foul committed by Nathan Ngoy of Belgium.
Mikel Oyarzabal wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Lamine Yamal from Spain takes a left-footed shot from outside the box.
Brandon Mechele wins a free kick for Belgium in the defensive half.
Lamine Yamal commits a foul for Spain.
Maxim De Cuyper commits a foul for Belgium.
Pedro Porro wins a free kick for Spain in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Charles De Ketelaere's left-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked, assisted by Jérémy Doku.
Álex Baena's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Pau Cubarsí with a through ball.
Jérémy Doku wins a free kick for Belgium in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Pedro Porro of Spain.
Attempt blocked. Rodri's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Fabián Ruiz provided the assist with a cross.
Leandro Trossard commits a foul for Belgium.
Lamine Yamal wins a free kick for Spain on the left wing.
Offside called against Spain. Marc Cucurella is caught offside.
Nicolas Raskin commits a foul for Belgium.
Offside.
Kick-off! The referee is Michael Oliver.
Two of Europe's finest nations collide in a blockbuster 2026 World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Spain riding an imperious run of four clean sheets and Belgium carrying the momentum of a stunning 4-1 demolition of the USA. This is knockout football at its most intense — one team's dream ends on Friday night.
