Spain 2-1 Belgium win in the World Cup 2026 quarter-final

The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final took place on 10 July 2026 under the lights of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Both sides entered the tie knowing that a single mistake could end their campaign, and the atmosphere was charged with the usual knockout-stage tension.

How it unfolded

The first half opened cautiously, but the deadlock was broken in the 30th minute when Spain’s midfield dynamo Fabián Ruiz struck from the centre of the box with a right-footed shot that flew into the high centre of the net, giving the hosts an early lead. The goal shifted momentum to the Spanish side, who began to dominate possession and probe the Belgian defence.

Belgium responded swiftly. In the 41st minute, Charles De Ketelaere rose to meet a cross from Timothy Castagne and headed the ball from the centre of the box into the net, restoring parity. The assist from Castagne was a precise delivery that allowed the Belgian forward to find space and level the score just before the half-time whistle.

Just two minutes later, in the 43rd minute, Spain’s Pau Cubarsí was shown a yellow card for a bad foul, a caution that highlighted the growing intensity as both teams vied for control. The booking did not deter Spain, who continued to press.

The second half remained tightly contested. In the 85th minute, Belgium’s veteran Kevin De Bruyne received a yellow card for a bad foul, a reminder that the match was still being decided in fine margins. With the clock winding down, Spain seized the decisive moment.

Mikel Merino, coming off the bench, delivered the winning blow in the 88th minute. From very close range, he fired a left-footed shot into the top left corner, restoring Spain’s lead and leaving Belgium with little time to respond. The goal re-established a two-goal advantage for the hosts as the match entered injury time.

Discipline continued to feature in the dying moments. In the third minute of added time (90'+3'), Spain’s Aymeric Laporte was booked for a bad foul, followed two minutes later (90'+5') by a yellow card for Belgium’s Axel Witsel for a similar infraction. Both cautions came as the final whistle approached, sealing a tense conclusion to a closely fought quarter-final.

Standout performers

  • Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring for Spain with a confident strike in the 30th minute.
  • Charles De Ketelaere equalised for Belgium, his header assisted by Timothy Castagne, whose cross proved decisive.
  • Mikel Merino provided the match-winning goal in the 88th minute, demonstrating composure in a high-pressure moment.
  • Timothy Castagne earned a mention for the quality of his assist that set up De Ketelaere’s goal.

Match facts

  • Final score: Spain 2-1 Belgium
  • Goals:
    • Fabián Ruiz (30') – Spain
    • Charles De Ketelaere (41') – Belgium (assist: Timothy Castagne)
    • Mikel Merino (88') – Spain
  • Yellow cards:
    • Pau Cubarsí (43') – Spain
    • Kevin De Bruyne (85') – Belgium
    • Aymeric Laporte (90'+3') – Spain
    • Axel Witsel (90'+5') – Belgium
  • Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California

What it means

Spain’s 2-1 victory sends them through to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, while Belgium’s defeat ends their tournament campaign at the quarter-final stage. The result underscores the fine margins of knockout football, where a single goal can determine a nation’s fate.