Mikel Merino Shines as Spain Advances to FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinals
Merino's Impactful Performance
In a thrilling quarterfinal match, Mikel Merino played a pivotal role as a substitute, helping Spain secure a 2-1 victory over Belgium and earn a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals. His contributions were crucial, especially following his impactful performance in the previous knockout round against Portugal.
Expressing his excitement, Merino acknowledged the challenge of replicating such decisive moments. "It feels like a coincidence, but if you enter the game prepared, it might happen again. I'm really excited, though I doubt it will occur again; we’ll see," he remarked after the match.
The Spanish midfielder has become an unexpected hero during the knockout stages, consistently delivering key moments after coming off the bench.
Looking ahead, Merino shared his aspirations for Spain's title run, stating, "Winning two matches to claim the World Cup would be a dream come true—hopefully, we can achieve it."
Match Highlights
In the match, Fabian Ruiz was surprisingly chosen to start over Pedri, and it was Merino who scored the winning goal for Spain. Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere managed to find the net, but it was not enough to secure a win.
Ruiz opened the scoring after Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois deflected Dani Olmo's shot into his path. Spain continued to apply pressure, with Lamine Yamal's energetic performance earning him the Player of the Match title.
Belgium equalized just before halftime, thanks to a well-timed cross from Timothy Castagne that De Ketelaere headed in, ending Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon's impressive streak of 560 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding a goal.
A significant blow for Belgium came in the 71st minute when Courtois had to leave the field due to injury, replaced by Senne Lammens. Shortly after, Lammens was unable to hold onto a long-range shot from Pau Cubarsi, allowing Merino to score the rebound and secure the victory.
This win marked Spain's 36th consecutive match without defeat, matching Argentina's unbeaten streak from 2019 to 2022 and putting them just one game away from Italy's world-record 37-match unbeaten run.
Spain is now set to face France in a highly anticipated semifinal as they pursue another FIFA World Cup title.