Mikel Merino scored a dramatic 88th-minute winner against Belgium at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday night to send Spain into the World Cup semi-finals and equal Argentina’s second-longest unbeaten run in men’s international football history.Spain’s 2-1 victory over Belgium means they have gone 36 consecutive games unbeaten, equaling Argentina’s record between 2019 and 2022, on their way to the World Cup in Qatar. Only Italy’s extraordinary 37-match unbeaten run between 2018 and 2021 leads Spain in the all-time rankings.The record-tying victory was anything but easy. Spain took the lead in the 30th minute through Fabián Ruiz, but were equalized by Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st minute, conceding their first goal in an entire match at the 2026 World Cup, ending Unai Simón’s historic run of goals. As Belgium pushed for the winning goal and Spain’s grip on the game waned, the unlikeliest of players produced individual moments of brilliance.Merino, who came on as a second-half substitute, latched on to Paul Cubasi’s shot and Belgian goalkeeper Sené Lamence, who replaced the injured and tearful Thibaut Courtois in the 71st minute, failed to keep the ball away. Merino swooped in and buried the bounce. The SoFi Stadium erupted.For the second time in this tournament, Merino came on as a substitute and scored the decisive late-winner, exactly as he did against Portugal in the last 16, heading home in injury time and sending Cristiano Ronaldo home in tears.Spain will face France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, in a heavyweight European competition that will decide one finalist. The other semi-final is between Argentina and England.They are only one game away from Italy’s unbeaten record of 37 games. A win over France on Tuesday would see Spain join the Azzurri at the top of the table.
