Spain Edges Belgium 2-1 in World Cup Thriller, Sets Up Semifinal Clash with France

Spain has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in a hard-fought quarterfinal match held in Los Angeles on Friday. The win, secured by a late goal from super-sub Mikel Merino, sees 'La Roja' continue their impressive tournament run, though it also marked the end of their historic streak of six consecutive clean sheets in the World Cup. Before this clash, Spain had already etched its name in the history books by becoming the first team to keep six consecutive clean sheets in World Cup history, a formidable defensive record stretching back to the 2022 edition. Goalkeeper Unai Simón extended his personal shutout streak to an astonishing 650 minutes before Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere found the net in the 41st minute, breaking Spain's defensive wall and leveling the score after Fabián Ruiz's opener. The match took another turn when Belgium's star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois left due to injury, and his replacement, Senne Lammens, made a crucial error leading to Merino's 88th-minute winner. The victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal showdown for Spain against their fierce European rivals, France, scheduled for Tuesday at Dallas Stadium. With Spain currently ranked third in the FIFA World Ranking, this deep run into the tournament, despite breaking their defensive record, positions them as strong contenders for their second World Cup title, promising another thrilling encounter as they battle for a spot in the final.