The night air in Inglewood was electric as a sellout crowd of 70,492 filled SoFi Stadium for the World Cup quarterfinal showdown between Spain and Belgium.
Earlier, Dani Olmo forced a save from Courtois, but it was Fabián Ruiz who broke the deadlock with a precise strike that sent the Spanish bench into celebration.
Belgium answered back through Charles De Ketelaere, whose goal not only halved the deficit but also snapped Spain's flawless defensive run, injecting renewed hope into the Belgian side.
A Tactical Shift That Changed the Game
Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente made a bold call, leaving Pedri on the bench and introducing Mikel Merino late in the piece, a gamble that reshaped the midfield dynamics.
The move paid immediate dividends when Merino struck the winning goal, forcing a scramble that saw Thibaut Courtois make a desperate save before the ball crossed the line.
The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes as Spain's players and fans celebrated a hard‑won 2‑1 victory, securing a place in the semifinal where they will meet France in Dallas.