Spain secured a dramatic place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeating Belgium 2-1 in an exciting quarter-final at Los Angeles Stadium. A late winning goal sealed Spain’s place in the last four and set up a blockbuster meeting with France.
Spain began the match with confidence and controlled possession during the opening stages. Their attacking play finally paid off in the 30th minute when Fabián Ruiz scored the opening goal. His finish gave Spain a deserved lead after sustained pressure on the Belgian defence.
Belgium fought back before the halftime break and found an equaliser in the 41st minute. Charles De Ketelaere scored to level the match at 1-1. It was also the first goal Spain had conceded during the tournament, ending their impressive defensive run.
The second half remained closely contested as both teams searched for the winning goal. Belgium defended well and looked capable of forcing extra time. Spain, however, continued to create chances and pressed forward in the closing stages.
The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute. Substitute Mikel Merino scored with only minutes remaining to restore Spain’s lead. Belgium could not find another equaliser before the final whistle, allowing Spain to celebrate a memorable 2-1 victory.
The result sends Spain into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, where they will meet France in one of the biggest matches of the tournament. Both teams have shown strong form and will now compete for a place in the final.
France became the first team to reach the semi-finals after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the opening quarter-final at Boston Stadium. The French side controlled large periods of the match and created several scoring opportunities from the beginning.
Captain Kylian Mbappé was heavily involved throughout the game. France received a penalty in the first half after Mbappé was fouled inside the penalty area. However, the Moroccan goalkeeper saved the spot kick, keeping the score level before halftime.
France continued their attacking approach after the break. Their persistence finally produced results in the 60th minute when Mbappé scored to give his team the lead. Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added a second goal to strengthen France’s advantage.
Morocco pushed forward in the final stages and tried to reduce the deficit. They created a few chances, including a dangerous free kick in the closing minutes. France’s defence and goalkeeper remained solid and prevented any comeback.
The 2-0 victory secured France’s place in the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive tournament. The team will now prepare for a highly anticipated showdown against Spain.
Mbappé also reached another major milestone during the match. His goal against Morocco took his tally to eight goals at the 2026 World Cup. He became the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score eight goals in two different editions of the competition.
In other news read more about France Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Finals After 2-0 Victory Over Morocco
The French captain had also scored eight goals during the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The latest achievement further strengthens his place among the greatest performers in World Cup history as France continue their pursuit of another world title.
