Spain Concedes First World Cup Goal But Advances Past Belgium

Spain's remarkable streak of not conceding a goal in the 2026 World Cup came to an end in the 88th minute of their quarterfinal match against Belgium. After 649 minutes without letting an opponent score, dating back to the previous tournament, a goal against Spain was finally registered, a surprising event for the team.

Despite the unexpected setback, Spain secured a 2-1 victory. The winning goal came from substitute Mikel Merino, who capitalized on a mistake by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Lammens, who had replaced the injured Thibaut Courtois, fumbled a shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Merino to score. This marked Merino's second crucial late-game goal in the knockout stages, having also scored the winner in the Round of 16 against Portugal and previously in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.

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Spain has passed the test of the first goal conceded against Belgium.

Belgium had entered the quarterfinals hardened by a challenging group stage, including draws and a comeback victory. Their midfield featured Nicolas Raskin and Hans Vanaken, with Youri Tielemans injured and Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku returning to the starting lineup. Romelu Lukaku also featured upfront, known for his ability to score crucial goals and mediate team conflicts.

Spain's resilience in conceding their first goal and still securing the win demonstrates their ability to overcome adversity. They now advance to the semifinals, where they will face a formidable opponent in France. Belgium's journey in the tournament concludes after a hard-fought campaign.

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It was the next strike from the Spanish super-joker, who had only been on the field for two minutes.