The Los Angeles Stadium was the scene of the duel between Spain and Belgium for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. Goals from Fabián Ruíz and Mikel Merino gave Spain the 2-1 victory. “La Roja” will face France in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup.

The Spanish team received its first goal in the World Cup. This annotation complicated the aspirations of “La Roja” a little. However, Luis de la Fuente's team remained calm and found a regular hero in their matches: Mikel Merino.

Mikel Merino's goal was the result of a rebound in the middle by Senne Lammens. Thibaut Courtois had to be substituted in the second half due to an injury. The Real Madrid goalkeeper left in tears. Spain is among the four best teams in the 2026 World Cup.

Once initial from Spain: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz Peña; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal.

Belgium starting eleven: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Nicolas Raskin, Hans Vanaken; Jérémy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere.

The first minutes of the game were a lot of study. No team dared to risk more than necessary in attack. A large number of passes were horizontal with the intention of retaining the ball. A few first minutes little interrupted by fouls (only three infractions).

For the first hydration period, neither of the two teams were able to take the first shot on goal. Spain dominated possession of the ball by 64%, but it was a ball possession that did not worry the Belgian defense.

The first goal of the game would come in the 29th minute of the game. An advance on the right side between Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro progressed to the finish line. Porro sent a cross at grass level that could be connected by Dani Olmo. The shot was rejected by Thibaut Courtois, but the rebound fell to Fabián Ruiz Peña who shot into the back of the net.

After Spain's goal, Luis de la Fuente's team tried a couple more approaches from Lamine Yamal's boots. The FC Barcelona player, in the first half, had the most participatory duel with “La Roja” so far in the World Cup.

The Spanish team was closer to 2-0 than Belgium was to a tie. However, in an isolated cross from Timothy Castagne, Charles De Ketelaere anticipated Cubarsi and managed to connect a good header that could not be intercepted by Unai Simón.

Charles De Ketelaere's goal represented Spain's first goal conceded in the 2026 World Cup. “La Roja” had kept a clean sheet in six consecutive games. But the young Belgian striker ended that record.

Second time in Los Angeles

The first few moments of the second half showed a much more dynamic game. Spain did not focus on controlling, maintaining and protecting the ball. Luis de la Fuente's team was much more vertical in its advances. This also offered better spaces to Belgium.

At minute 60 Lamine Yamal appeared again. The FC Barcelona player seemed to have the key to the Spanish goal. On a couple of occasions he forced good interventions from Thibaut Courtois, one with a shot and another with a good clearance.

At minute 70, Belgium would lose its great leader in goal. Thibaut Courtois was replaced due to injury. The Real Madrid goalkeeper was visibly affected. The replacement was Senne Lammens.

As the minutes passed, the Spanish depth was losing weight. However, in an isolated play Spain would make it 2-1. A long-distance shot from Pau Cubarsí demanded more than necessary from Senne Lammens. The Belgian goalkeeper rejected the middle and this was taken advantage of by Mikel Merino.

As happened against Portugal, Mikel Merino is once again the protagonist by scoring a goal coming from the substitute bench. The villain was Senne Lammens. The substitute for Thibaut Courtois left the ball served for the Spanish goal.

Detailed data from the match between Spain and Belgium