Spain conceded for the first time in the 2026 World Cup as Belgium‘s Charles De Ketelaere cancelled out Fabian Ruiz’s opener in their quarter-final clash in Los Angeles.
Belgium had frustrated Spain with little difficulty for much of the first half, with Jeremy Doku providing a threat for Rudi Garcia’s side.
But, after Lamine Yamal had curled wide from outside the area, Spain found the breakthrough on the half-hour mark as Ruiz pounced on a rebound after Thibaut Courtois could only manage to palm a Dani Olmo effort into his path.
Courtois then had to get down low to keep out a Yamal free-kick as Spain sought a second, with the Barcelona teenager then firing into the side-netting after cutting in from the right in trademark fashion.
Spain were punished for failing to double their lead as De Ketelaere scored his third goal in two games.
Belgium, who lost Youri Tielemans to injury in the warm-up, became the first team to break down the Spain defence in this tournament with a well-worked move.
Kevin De Bruyne played in Timothy Castagne down the right with a clever pass, and the Fulham full-back’s cross was converted with a fine header from De Ketelaere.
