• Semifinal match up set: Spain will meet France for the first semifinal set after La Roja scored a late winning goal in the second half to beat Belgium 2-1.
• Highlights: In the first half, Fabián Ruiz scored the opener for Spain before La Roja conceded their first goal of World Cup 2026 to the Red Devils as Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium. Finally, Mikel Merino scored the winning goal for Spain.
• Belgium lost key players: The Red Devils started the quarterfinal in California without captain Youri Tielemans, who suffered an injury during warmup, and lost keeper Thibault Courtois to injury in the second half.
• Sign up for The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily World Cup newsletter.
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Our live coverage of the Spain-Belgium World Cup quarterfinal has ended. Scroll down below for more news and analysis from Friday afternoon’s match.
There’s a very common expression in soccer, at least in Spain: Hay que saber sufrir – “You have to know how to suffer.” Well, tonight, I have suffered.
A slight insight into this game and my wild abandonment of reason whenever my teams play: When Thibaut Courtois went off in the 71st minute, instead of thinking, “Hey, the other team’s best player went off, we have a better chance of winning,” I thought, “Well, the soccer gods deem us unworthy of victory tonight.”
As the minutes ticked down and it looked like it was going to extra-time, I just had my head in my hands until seeing what looked like yet another late, futile attempt on goal from someone who isn’t a forward or winger. Except this time, the keeper’s save bumbled forward out of his hands and the ball dropped to Mikel Merino, who came to Spain’s rescue yet again.
All this to say that soccer is never straightforward. You can be the overwhelming favorite. You can have multiple things go your way in terms of circumstance. You can play better than the opponent.
And yet, sometimes, you make one seemingly inconsequential mistake and it’s tied. Sometimes, everything you try just seems to be slightly out of sync and the whole thing becomes a hypothetical torture chamber. At those times, hay que saber sufrir.
Belgium says goodbye to this tournament and, as a result, to its “Golden Generation” and we should laud the effort they showed today. The Red Devils – true to their name – knew about suffering and almost made it pay off today. Respect.
La Roja knows about suffering too. Striker Mikel Oyarzabal said ahead of the quarterfinal, “Regardless of whether things go well or badly, or who’s playing, the team responds, and I think that’s crucial.”
Spain has had some incredible play this tournament that led to lots of goals and easy wins (Saudi Arabia and Austria), but it’s also had some rough and tumble affairs that it has survived (Uruguay), some games where nothing seemed to work (Cape Verde) and some games where nothing seemed to work until it did (Portugal and Belgium).
Through it all, La Roja had to know how to suffer to make it to the semifinals and, now, they have a date with the unstoppable juggernaut that is France.
Let me tell you now, there will be a whole lot more suffering on Tuesday at AT&T Stadium when the two tournament favorites take the field.
I will 100% suffer despite thinking Spain is the underdog in the tie, but like I said at the beginning of the night, that’s the glorious part of the game. You take the highs with the lows and, sometimes, you experience something magical. Sometimes, it all pays off. Sometimes, you might see your country suffer just a tad less than the opposition and make it to a second ever World Cup final.
Hay que saber sufrir.
Before a ball was even kicked at this tournament, many people predicted this semifinal matchup when filling in their bracket.
It’s going to be world No. 1 France versus world No. 2 Spain, and the stage will be the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.
Some think this match is the unofficial final, because whoever wins will be the favorite to lift the title on July 19.
Spain will have to play better if it’s going to trouble France, though.
They’ve probably gone further than most neutrals would’ve predicted but the nature of this defeat will hurt Rudi Garcia’s side.
On the balance of play Spain deserved the win but Belgium showed incredible resilience and bravery in adversity to push Spain to the very end.
It was one thing losing captain Youri Tielemans right before kickoff but you wonder how this game could’ve panned out had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not left the field through injury at such a pivotal moment in the match.
Their exit could also mark the last World Cup outing for several of the team’s “Golden Generation” of stars including Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Attention too will now switch to the future of Garcia, whose contract is up at the end of this tournament.
You sense the winds of change will be abound in the coming weeks and months.
And that’s it! What a thrilling end to this match as Spain grabs a late winner to beat Belgium, 2-1.
It’s brutal for the Belgians, who hung in right until the very end. But one mistake from a substitute keeper, and the Red Devils are out of the World Cup.
Spain moves on to face France in the semifinal.
Could that have been the moment for Belgium to get themselves back in this game?
Belgium hits Spain on the break and Unai Simón has inexplicably come right out of his goal.
It’s a poor cross from Alexis Saelemaekers and Aymeric Laporte spares his goalkeeper’s blushes to clear away.
A better delivery there from the Belgian and Spain would’ve been in all sorts of trouble.
Moments and fine margins decide matches and Senne Lammens will be reflecting long and hard on his error that has potentially gifted Spain a semifinal spot.
Belgium’s defense could probably have done more to close down the long range effort from Pau Cubarsi but Merino was quickest to bounce and that could be the difference.
Belgium now has just over five minutes to find a route back into this game and keep its World Cup hopes alive.
Is that the winner?! Surely it is.
Just when things were drifting towards extra-time, Senne Lammens drops a clanger in the Belgium goal and Mikel Merino taps in from close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead.
The Arsenal man has a knack for scoring late goals and he’s done so again here, capitalising on the chance presented to him when Lammens let Pau Cubarsi’s shot slip from his grip.
Potential heartbreak for Belgium.
After the early burst of attacking intent in this second half, it’s back to how we were set in the early stages of this match with Belgium soaking up Spanish pressure.
The Red Devils are sitting deeper and deeper in their half but to their credit the centre backs of Brandon Mechele and Nathan Ngoy are holding firm.
Newly introduced left back Joaquin Seys is so far containing the threat posed by Lamine Yamal but the Belgium defense will know that they can be undone by one moment of Spanish magic.
Belgium has now made all five of its substitutions, with Kevin De Bruyne coming off, so Rudi Garcia is out of cards to play.
Spain looks great up until the ball gets close to Belgium’s box.
La Roja then lacks quality and intent, opting instead for little flicks around corners that result in turning over possession.
Belgium has defended well up to this point but will be getting tired under this sweltering heat. A little more care and Spain could find a winner here.
Winger Nico Williams is now on and the 23-year-old will fancy his chances with fresh legs. He’s been out injured for much of this tournament but he’s needed now by his team.
When your luck is out, it’s out.
First captain Youri Tielemans, now talisman goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had to leave the pitch with what looks to be a thigh injury.
The Belgian is visibly emotional as he walks off the field.
He’s replaced by his understudy Senne Lammens.
It’s a big loss for Belgium but Lammens has more than proved himself at Manchester United this past season.
La Rojas and the Red Devils are back on the pitch for the final “quarter” of the second half.
If there’s one Belgian player who knows about Spain’s attacking threat better than most it’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois, rated among the best keepers in world football, has previously played for Atletico Madrid before moving to cross-city rivals Real Madrid after a spell at Chelsea.
He’s been as sharp as ever today in making routine saves to keep out Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.
The 34-year-old did go down clutching his left thigh just before the hydration break but is back up and moving. A sigh of relief I’m sure for all Belgium supporters!
Thibaut Courtois has been brilliant in goal so far for Belgium because Spain is really ramping up the pressure.
Every time Lamine Yamal gets on the ball, there is a sense of expectation with the 18-year-old getting the better of his defender at almost every opprtunity since the break.
He keeps cutting in and threatening to unleash that lethal left-footed shot but he just hasn’t been able to pull the trigger yet.
You sense it’s getting closer, though.
There’s the second hydration break and the “third quarter” has come to a close.
Somewhat concerningly for Spain fans in this second half, Belgium grew into the match, albeit slowly. The Red Devils are beginning to find a few more chances and are playing a bit more open than they were in the first half.
You have to wonder if Belgium boss Rudi Garcia reminded them, “We need to score more goals to win,” or if he said that Spain will eventually win if the Belgians just sit back and don’t try to have more initiative.
Still though, Belgium is allowing Spain more of the ball and letting it make the first move, relying on reactions on the counter to get something going. It’s working as La Roja’s finishing in the final third is as sloppy as it was in the first half. Sensing the need for some change, Luis de la Fuente put Pedri and Ferrán Torres onto the pitch. The Barça duo might have a bit more luck combining with the front line, especially with Pedri’s creativity.
The nerves are well and truly back for me, so let’s hope for a Spain goal (or two) to alleviate my pain.
Beglium is growing in confidence and so too is Jérémy Doku.
He’s proving to be a real handful for Spain’s defense, in particular right back Pedro Porro who is well and truly being given the runaround.
Not only is the Belgian winger linking up well with his left back, he’s carrying the ball, committing Spanish defenders and midfielders and allowing Belgium to get up the pitch.
If Spain doesn’t shut down this fast it could be punished.
It’s hard to think of a player who has had a bigger impact off the substitute’s bench this tournament than Belgium’s record goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku.
Four appearances off the bench, four different games, four game-changing moments.
In Belgium’s opening group game against Egypt, the team was trailing 1-0 and looked bereft of ideas until the introduction of Lukaku forced an equalizing own goal.
He then had another instant impact against New Zealand, scoring a goal shortly after coming on to put Belgium top of the group.
History repeated itself when the Red Devils faced Senegal in the Round of 32 with the 33-year-old scoring the goal that prompted a remarkable turnaround as Belgium recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
And then against the United States in the last 16, his sublime strike topped off a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
With his goal tally currently at three, he’s also become the first Belgian player to score on three occasions at multiple World Cups – the other time in 2018 as Belgium finished the tournament in third place.
He’s just come on now.
Belgium’s equalizer at the end of that first half would have shaken Spain a bit but it came out after the break with a fresh sense of impetus, flooding forward at every opportunity.
Lamine Yamal is working himself into some good positions but is yet to find enough space to take a proper effort on goal. Dani Olmo also had a shot on goal but saw his effort fly high and wide.
Feels very similar to the start of the first 45 minutes so far.
Pedri and Ferran Torres have both just been introduced as Spain looks for some more quality in the final third.
If there’s one thing Rudi Garcia would’ve noted in that first half, it’s Belgium’s ability to expose Spain’s high line.
There were a few opportunities towards the end of the half when the team’s main attacking threats in De Ketelaere and Doku were left one-on-one against Spain’s backline.
Only a sloppy pass or interception prevented them from breaking through, so Spain’s defense will have to be on high alert in this second half.
Let’s not forget, Belgium, with 14 goals, is the joint second-highest scorers alongside Argentina and only behind France (16).
Halftime is over as Spain and Belgium retake the field for the final half of play with a trip to the semifinal on the line. The score is all tied up at 1-1 after Belgium’s thrilling equalizer.
• Semifinal match up set: Spain will meet France for the first semifinal set after La Roja scored a late winning goal in the second half to beat Belgium 2-1.
• Highlights: In the first half, Fabián Ruiz scored the opener for Spain before La Roja conceded their first goal of World Cup 2026 to the Red Devils as Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium. Finally, Mikel Merino scored the winning goal for Spain.
• Belgium lost key players: The Red Devils started the quarterfinal in California without captain Youri Tielemans, who suffered an injury during warmup, and lost keeper Thibault Courtois to injury in the second half.
• Sign up for The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, our daily World Cup newsletter.
Sigue toda nuestra cobertura en español aquí con CNNE.
Our live coverage of the Spain-Belgium World Cup quarterfinal has ended. Scroll down below for more news and analysis from Friday afternoon’s match.
There’s a very common expression in soccer, at least in Spain: Hay que saber sufrir – “You have to know how to suffer.” Well, tonight, I have suffered.
A slight insight into this game and my wild abandonment of reason whenever my teams play: When Thibaut Courtois went off in the 71st minute, instead of thinking, “Hey, the other team’s best player went off, we have a better chance of winning,” I thought, “Well, the soccer gods deem us unworthy of victory tonight.”
As the minutes ticked down and it looked like it was going to extra-time, I just had my head in my hands until seeing what looked like yet another late, futile attempt on goal from someone who isn’t a forward or winger. Except this time, the keeper’s save bumbled forward out of his hands and the ball dropped to Mikel Merino, who came to Spain’s rescue yet again.
All this to say that soccer is never straightforward. You can be the overwhelming favorite. You can have multiple things go your way in terms of circumstance. You can play better than the opponent.
And yet, sometimes, you make one seemingly inconsequential mistake and it’s tied. Sometimes, everything you try just seems to be slightly out of sync and the whole thing becomes a hypothetical torture chamber. At those times, hay que saber sufrir.
Belgium says goodbye to this tournament and, as a result, to its “Golden Generation” and we should laud the effort they showed today. The Red Devils – true to their name – knew about suffering and almost made it pay off today. Respect.
La Roja knows about suffering too. Striker Mikel Oyarzabal said ahead of the quarterfinal, “Regardless of whether things go well or badly, or who’s playing, the team responds, and I think that’s crucial.”
Spain has had some incredible play this tournament that led to lots of goals and easy wins (Saudi Arabia and Austria), but it’s also had some rough and tumble affairs that it has survived (Uruguay), some games where nothing seemed to work (Cape Verde) and some games where nothing seemed to work until it did (Portugal and Belgium).
Through it all, La Roja had to know how to suffer to make it to the semifinals and, now, they have a date with the unstoppable juggernaut that is France.
Let me tell you now, there will be a whole lot more suffering on Tuesday at AT&T Stadium when the two tournament favorites take the field.
I will 100% suffer despite thinking Spain is the underdog in the tie, but like I said at the beginning of the night, that’s the glorious part of the game. You take the highs with the lows and, sometimes, you experience something magical. Sometimes, it all pays off. Sometimes, you might see your country suffer just a tad less than the opposition and make it to a second ever World Cup final.
Hay que saber sufrir.
Before a ball was even kicked at this tournament, many people predicted this semifinal matchup when filling in their bracket.
It’s going to be world No. 1 France versus world No. 2 Spain, and the stage will be the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday.
Some think this match is the unofficial final, because whoever wins will be the favorite to lift the title on July 19.
Spain will have to play better if it’s going to trouble France, though.
They’ve probably gone further than most neutrals would’ve predicted but the nature of this defeat will hurt Rudi Garcia’s side.
On the balance of play Spain deserved the win but Belgium showed incredible resilience and bravery in adversity to push Spain to the very end.
It was one thing losing captain Youri Tielemans right before kickoff but you wonder how this game could’ve panned out had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not left the field through injury at such a pivotal moment in the match.
Their exit could also mark the last World Cup outing for several of the team’s “Golden Generation” of stars including Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
Attention too will now switch to the future of Garcia, whose contract is up at the end of this tournament.
You sense the winds of change will be abound in the coming weeks and months.
And that’s it! What a thrilling end to this match as Spain grabs a late winner to beat Belgium, 2-1.
It’s brutal for the Belgians, who hung in right until the very end. But one mistake from a substitute keeper, and the Red Devils are out of the World Cup.
Spain moves on to face France in the semifinal.
Could that have been the moment for Belgium to get themselves back in this game?
Belgium hits Spain on the break and Unai Simón has inexplicably come right out of his goal.
It’s a poor cross from Alexis Saelemaekers and Aymeric Laporte spares his goalkeeper’s blushes to clear away.
A better delivery there from the Belgian and Spain would’ve been in all sorts of trouble.
Moments and fine margins decide matches and Senne Lammens will be reflecting long and hard on his error that has potentially gifted Spain a semifinal spot.
Belgium’s defense could probably have done more to close down the long range effort from Pau Cubarsi but Merino was quickest to bounce and that could be the difference.
Belgium now has just over five minutes to find a route back into this game and keep its World Cup hopes alive.
Is that the winner?! Surely it is.
Just when things were drifting towards extra-time, Senne Lammens drops a clanger in the Belgium goal and Mikel Merino taps in from close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead.
The Arsenal man has a knack for scoring late goals and he’s done so again here, capitalising on the chance presented to him when Lammens let Pau Cubarsi’s shot slip from his grip.
Potential heartbreak for Belgium.
After the early burst of attacking intent in this second half, it’s back to how we were set in the early stages of this match with Belgium soaking up Spanish pressure.
The Red Devils are sitting deeper and deeper in their half but to their credit the centre backs of Brandon Mechele and Nathan Ngoy are holding firm.
Newly introduced left back Joaquin Seys is so far containing the threat posed by Lamine Yamal but the Belgium defense will know that they can be undone by one moment of Spanish magic.
Belgium has now made all five of its substitutions, with Kevin De Bruyne coming off, so Rudi Garcia is out of cards to play.
Spain looks great up until the ball gets close to Belgium’s box.
La Roja then lacks quality and intent, opting instead for little flicks around corners that result in turning over possession.
Belgium has defended well up to this point but will be getting tired under this sweltering heat. A little more care and Spain could find a winner here.
Winger Nico Williams is now on and the 23-year-old will fancy his chances with fresh legs. He’s been out injured for much of this tournament but he’s needed now by his team.
When your luck is out, it’s out.
First captain Youri Tielemans, now talisman goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had to leave the pitch with what looks to be a thigh injury.
The Belgian is visibly emotional as he walks off the field.
He’s replaced by his understudy Senne Lammens.
It’s a big loss for Belgium but Lammens has more than proved himself at Manchester United this past season.
La Rojas and the Red Devils are back on the pitch for the final “quarter” of the second half.
If there’s one Belgian player who knows about Spain’s attacking threat better than most it’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois, rated among the best keepers in world football, has previously played for Atletico Madrid before moving to cross-city rivals Real Madrid after a spell at Chelsea.
He’s been as sharp as ever today in making routine saves to keep out Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.
The 34-year-old did go down clutching his left thigh just before the hydration break but is back up and moving. A sigh of relief I’m sure for all Belgium supporters!
Thibaut Courtois has been brilliant in goal so far for Belgium because Spain is really ramping up the pressure.
Every time Lamine Yamal gets on the ball, there is a sense of expectation with the 18-year-old getting the better of his defender at almost every opprtunity since the break.
He keeps cutting in and threatening to unleash that lethal left-footed shot but he just hasn’t been able to pull the trigger yet.
You sense it’s getting closer, though.
There’s the second hydration break and the “third quarter” has come to a close.
Somewhat concerningly for Spain fans in this second half, Belgium grew into the match, albeit slowly. The Red Devils are beginning to find a few more chances and are playing a bit more open than they were in the first half.
You have to wonder if Belgium boss Rudi Garcia reminded them, “We need to score more goals to win,” or if he said that Spain will eventually win if the Belgians just sit back and don’t try to have more initiative.
Still though, Belgium is allowing Spain more of the ball and letting it make the first move, relying on reactions on the counter to get something going. It’s working as La Roja’s finishing in the final third is as sloppy as it was in the first half. Sensing the need for some change, Luis de la Fuente put Pedri and Ferrán Torres onto the pitch. The Barça duo might have a bit more luck combining with the front line, especially with Pedri’s creativity.
The nerves are well and truly back for me, so let’s hope for a Spain goal (or two) to alleviate my pain.
Beglium is growing in confidence and so too is Jérémy Doku.
He’s proving to be a real handful for Spain’s defense, in particular right back Pedro Porro who is well and truly being given the runaround.
Not only is the Belgian winger linking up well with his left back, he’s carrying the ball, committing Spanish defenders and midfielders and allowing Belgium to get up the pitch.
If Spain doesn’t shut down this fast it could be punished.
It’s hard to think of a player who has had a bigger impact off the substitute’s bench this tournament than Belgium’s record goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku.
Four appearances off the bench, four different games, four game-changing moments.
In Belgium’s opening group game against Egypt, the team was trailing 1-0 and looked bereft of ideas until the introduction of Lukaku forced an equalizing own goal.
He then had another instant impact against New Zealand, scoring a goal shortly after coming on to put Belgium top of the group.
History repeated itself when the Red Devils faced Senegal in the Round of 32 with the 33-year-old scoring the goal that prompted a remarkable turnaround as Belgium recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
And then against the United States in the last 16, his sublime strike topped off a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
With his goal tally currently at three, he’s also become the first Belgian player to score on three occasions at multiple World Cups – the other time in 2018 as Belgium finished the tournament in third place.
He’s just come on now.
Belgium’s equalizer at the end of that first half would have shaken Spain a bit but it came out after the break with a fresh sense of impetus, flooding forward at every opportunity.
Lamine Yamal is working himself into some good positions but is yet to find enough space to take a proper effort on goal. Dani Olmo also had a shot on goal but saw his effort fly high and wide.
Feels very similar to the start of the first 45 minutes so far.
Pedri and Ferran Torres have both just been introduced as Spain looks for some more quality in the final third.
If there’s one thing Rudi Garcia would’ve noted in that first half, it’s Belgium’s ability to expose Spain’s high line.
There were a few opportunities towards the end of the half when the team’s main attacking threats in De Ketelaere and Doku were left one-on-one against Spain’s backline.
Only a sloppy pass or interception prevented them from breaking through, so Spain’s defense will have to be on high alert in this second half.
Let’s not forget, Belgium, with 14 goals, is the joint second-highest scorers alongside Argentina and only behind France (16).
Halftime is over as Spain and Belgium retake the field for the final half of play with a trip to the semifinal on the line. The score is all tied up at 1-1 after Belgium’s thrilling equalizer.
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