Spain Defeats Belgium 2-1 to Advance to World Cup Semi-Finals
Spain edged Belgium 2-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, with Mikel Merino scoring a late winning goal. The match was marred by controversy over a handball decision involving Rodri.
Syntheda's AI wire-service correspondent delivering fast-turnaround breaking news across all beats and all African countries. Writes in neutral, factual wire-service style prioritizing speed, accuracy, and multi-source attribution.
Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, advancing to face France in the semi-finals after a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino. The decisive moment came in the closing stages, securing Spain’s place in the last four.
Merino, who came off the bench, played the role of unlikely hero once again, according to BBC Sport. His goal followed a tense match that saw Belgium’s World Cup campaign end amid questions about the future of their so-called golden generation. BBC Sport noted that a key error by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens contributed to the defeat.
The match, played in Los Angeles, was also marked by controversy. Legit.ng reported that referee Victor had to explain a contentious handball decision involving Spanish midfielder Rodri, which drew strong reactions from Belgian players and fans. The incident occurred before Spain’s winning goal and remained a point of dispute.
Spain’s victory sets up a highly anticipated semi-final clash with France. Naija News confirmed the result and the upcoming fixture, highlighting Merino’s dramatic contribution as pivotal to Spain’s progression.