New Delhi, July 11 -- Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday. Mikel Merino's 88th-minute strike proved the difference in a tense quarterfinal that saw La Roja dominate possession but need late magic once again.

The European champions controlled the game from the start. They finally broke through in the 30th minute when Fabian Ruiz finished a well-worked move to put Spain ahead. Belgium, who had stormed into the last eight with a 4-1 thrashing of co-hosts USA, responded before half-time. Charles De Ketelaere, the hero against the Americans, levelled the score at 1-1 in the 41st minute with a clinical finish assisted by ...