Mikel Merino netted a late minute goal to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.

Spain progressed into its second-ever World Cup semifinal and will face France in the semi final next Tuesday.

Merino, who scored an injury-time winner against Portugal in the previous round, pounced on a spill from substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens to fire the ball into the roof of the net in the 88th minute to clinch Spain the victory.

Fabian Ruiz, who made his first start since the opening group game, opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Charles de Ketelaere equalised for Belgium in the 41st minute.

Belgian skipper Youri Tielemans had to be replaced from the starting XI after he suffered an injury during warm-up, while veteran ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois went off injured in the final quarter of the game.