For much of the 2026 World Cup, it has felt like anyone could beat anyone.
Heavyweights have stumbled. Underdogs have rewritten their histories. Knockout soccer has produced enough late drama and shock results to make every lead feel temporary.
But as the tournament narrows, the margin for error disappears. Quarterfinals aren't just about moments of brilliance anymore. They're about control, patience and the ability to solve problems when a game plan isn't enough.
That's exactly what Friday delivered.
Belgium came within touching distance of one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, frustrating Spain for long stretches and proving La Roja could finally be hurt. Yet when the pressure reached its highest point, Spain did what the world's best teams often do — stay calm, trust their identity, and find a breakthrough. It wasn’t their flashiest or most convincing performance of late, but it was their most revealing.
Now, just one victory separates Spain from a return to the World Cup final for the first time since 2010. Standing in their way is France, a team accustomed to this stage of the tournament — and one in blistering form.
Here’s what happened on Friday at the World Cup.
THE RESULTS
Quarterfinals: Spain 2, Belgium 1| Match Report | Match Stats
THE BIG TAKEAWAY
Spain don't blow teams away — they wear them down. Friday was the latest example.
For more than an hour, Belgium's game plan held firm. They defended in numbers, stayed compact, and waited for their moments. Charles De Ketelaere's first-half equalizer showed Belgium could make the most of the few chances they created. And for a while, an upset felt genuinely possible.
But that's the thing about this Spanish side. They don't panic when Plan A isn't producing goals, and they never abandon their identity. La Roja simply kept playing until the weight of the game tilted entirely in their favour.
Belgium managed just five shots to Spain's 17, spending much of the afternoon chasing shadows as Rodri once again pulled the strings in midfield. Spain wasn't at their ruthless best in the final third (something that has quietly become a theme of their tournament), but they never surrendered control. Every passing minute felt like another turn of the screw.
By the closing stages, it no longer felt like if Spain would score again, but when.
Right on cue, Mikel Merino stepped off the bench and delivered. In the final moments, the midfielder hammered home yet another decisive World Cup goal after Senne Lammens spilled what should have been a routine save. It was another reminder that Spain's greatest strength isn't just the quality of their starting XI, but the waves of talent that keep coming. Belgium had already spent 88 minutes trying to contain one of Europe's best midfields before another match-winner arrived.
Spain is now unbeaten in 36 competitive matches and through to just the third World Cup semifinal in their history. They'll almost certainly need a higher gear against France, whose firepower poses an entirely different challenge. But if this tournament has taught us anything, it's that Spain doesn't need to dazzle for 90 minutes to keep finding a way.
COLLISION OF THE DAY
Referee Michael Oliver briefly became the most effective defender on the pitch. As Dani Olmo tried to carry the ball to the left, the Englishman stepped directly into his path and delivered an accidental body check that killed the Spanish attack. Oliver immediately apologized, but unfortunately for him, this one will live on every World Cup blooper reel.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Lamine Yamal isn't the only member of his family stealing the spotlight. Keyne, Yamal’s younger brother, spotted himself on the big screen at the final whistle. The four-year-old gave the crowd a wave, which earned a huge smile from Spain's teenage superstar.
STAT OF THE DAY
Spain's armour finally cracked. After 649 consecutive minutes without conceding — the longest shutout streak in World Cup history — Charles De Ketelaere solved La Roja's defence. Kevin De Bruyne expertly fed the ball to Timothy Castagne, who crossed it in for the 25-year-old to head home.
The last time Spain conceded a World Cup goal before this fixture was in Qatar 2022, when Japan netted in the group stage.
THREE STARS OF THE DAY
1. Mikel Merino (Spain): Super subs don't come much more reliable than Mikel Merino. For the second straight knockout match, the 30-year-old came off the bench to deliver when Spain needed him most. On Friday, the Arsenal star scored with just his third touch in the dying moments to book Spain’s place in the semifinals.
2. Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium): SoFi Stadium exploded when De Ketelaere broke Spain’s historic clean-sheet streak. The Atalanta forward timed his run to perfection before powering home a superb header, becoming the first player to score against Spain at this World Cup. His third goal of the tournament also matched his entire Serie A tally from last season.
3. Fabián Ruiz (Spain): With questions swirling over Luis de la Fuente's decision to pick him ahead of Pedri for the starting XI, Ruiz responded in the best possible way. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder arrived at precisely the right moment to put Spain ahead in the first half.
Honourable Mention: Jeremy Doku (Belgium): If anyone looked capable of unsettling Spain, it was Jeremy Doku. The winger was fearless every time he picked up the ball, using his blistering pace and ball control to stretch La Roja's defence and inject life into Belgium's attack.
