Mikel Merino’s dramatic 88th-minute winner against Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday night sent Spain into the World Cup semifinals and simultaneously equaled Argentina’s record for the second-longest unbeaten run in men’s soccer history.Spain’s 2-1 win over Belgium means they have gone 36 consecutive games without defeat, matching the run compiled by Argentina between 2019 and 2022, a streak that ended with their World Cup victory in Qatar. Only Italy’s remarkable 37-game unbeaten streak between 2018 and 2021 tops Spain on the all-time list.The record-equalling win was anything but straightforward. Spain took the lead through Fabián Ruiz in the 30th minute, only to be pegged back by Charles De Ketelaere’s equalizer in the 41st minute, Spain’s first goal of the entire 2026 World Cup, ending Unai Simón’s historic clean streak. With Belgium pushing for a winner and Spain’s grip on the game weakening, it took a moment of individual brilliance from the most unlikely of sources.Merino, who was introduced as a second-half substitute, closed in on a spilled Pau Cubarsí shot after Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who replaced the injured and tearful Thibaut Courtois in the 71st minute, failed to keep it clean. Merino hit and buried the rebound. SoFi Stadium erupted.It was the second time in this tournament that Merino came off the bench to score a decisive late winner, having done the same against Portugal in the Round of 16, nodding home in stoppage time to send Cristiano Ronaldo home in tears.Spain now face France in the semifinal in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, a heavyweight European clash that will decide one finalist. The other semi-final will pit Argentina against England.Italy’s record of 37 games without defeat is now just one more game. A win over France on Tuesday would see Spain go top of that list alongside the Azzuri’s.