Mikel Merino Goal Sends Spain to World Cup Semifinals for First Time Since 2010

Spain has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, securing a spot in the final four for the first time since their championship run in 2010. Luis de la Fuente's squad clinched their semifinal berth by defeating Belgium 2-1 in a hard-fought quarterfinal match.

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Spain continues to consolidate itself as one of the great favorites for the title of the 2026 World Cup.

The hero of the match was once again Mikel Merino. The midfielder, coming off the bench, scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute, mirroring his crucial contributions in previous tournament matches. This marks Merino's second consecutive game-winning goal in a major competition, solidifying his reputation as a key player for Spain.

Spain took the lead in the first half through Fabián Ruiz, who capitalized on a rebound after a save by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. However, Belgium equalized in the second half with a header from Charles De Ketelaere, ending Courtois' impressive streak of 649 minutes without conceding a goal in the World Cup.

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Mikel Merino, the hero of Spain.

The equalizer prompted Spain to make tactical substitutions, seeking to regain control. The match's dramatic conclusion came when a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsí was mishandled by Courtois' replacement, Senne Lammens. The rebound fell to Merino, who confidently slotted the ball into the net to secure Spain's victory and their place in the semifinals.

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His replacement, Senne Lammens, debuted in the final stretch of the match and ended up being an involuntary protagonist of the decisive play.