Last Updated on 08/07/2026 by TinHN Editor
Spain vs Belgium is the second World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, pitting the tournament’s tightest defense against one of its most dangerous attacking units.
Date & kick-off: Friday, July 10, 2026 — 3:00 p.m. ET (noon local time / 8:00 p.m. UK time)
Venue: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Inglewood, California
Spain’s road to the quarterfinal
Spain have been the standout defensive side of the tournament, keeping a clean sheet in all five matches so far — a record for the national team at a World Cup — while scoring nine goals. In the Round of 16, La Roja edged Portugal 1-0 through a stoppage-time header from substitute Mikel Merino, set up by a clever Ferran Torres pass. The result also brought down the curtain on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career; the 41-year-old confirmed afterward that 2026 was his last tournament.
Luis de la Fuente’s side arrive on a 34-match unbeaten run (W25 D9), one match short of the national team’s all-time record.
Belgium’s road to the quarterfinal
Belgium’s path has been more eventful. After coming from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in the Round of 32 — with Youri Tielemans central to the comeback — the Red Devils were far more emphatic in the Round of 16, routing co-hosts USA 4-1 through a Charles De Ketelaere brace and a stoppage-time Romelu Lukaku finish.
That win came at a cost, though: midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a torn ACL after coming on as a substitute and is ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Leandro Trossard was also withdrawn early with an apparent muscle complaint, and his fitness is the biggest outstanding team-news question for Belgium heading into the quarterfinal. Centre-back Zeno Debast, sidelined all tournament with a leg injury, remains a doubt.
History: a rubber match at World Cup level
This is the third meeting between the two nations at a World Cup, with the head-to-head currently level at the tournament level. Their first meeting came in the 1986 quarterfinals in Mexico — Belgium won on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time. Spain got revenge four years later at Italy 1990, winning 2-1 in the group stage. Their most recent meeting overall was a 2016 friendly, won 2-0 by Spain.
Form and key stats
Spain remain the only side in the tournament yet to concede, and rank second for shots and third for expected goals (xG) among all quarterfinalists. They’ve also been prolific from set pieces, averaging 7.8 corners per match over their last five games. Belgium counter with a more productive attack — 13 goals in five matches — but a shakier defense, having conceded five times. Disciplinary numbers favor Spain too: Belgium have picked up four yellow cards and a red in five matches, and may lean on tactical fouling to slow Spain’s rhythm.
Spain’s midfield trio of Rodri, Pedri and Fabián Ruiz sits behind Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal. For Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne, De Ketelaere, Trossard and Lukaku offer the most obvious route to a breakthrough on the counter.
Predicted lineups
Spain (4-3-3, expected unchanged): Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo (Merino available off the bench)
Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Castagne, Theate, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; De Bruyne, Doku, Trossard (fitness permitting); De Ketelaere. Confirmed absentee: Amadou Onana
Match preview: who reaches the semifinals?
Spain’s unbeaten defensive record and a run that’s one match from a national record give them real momentum, though their laboured win over Portugal — decided by a single stoppage-time moment — shows they can still be made to work for chances. Belgium present a very different problem: direct, experienced, and capable of deciding a game in a single moment, even with a defense that’s already shown cracks by conceding five goals this tournament.
Spain’s form and squad depth make them the favourites to advance, though this looks unlikely to be a high-scoring affair. A reference scoreline of 1-0 to Spain, with 3-5 cards expected and Belgium the side more likely to pick up the extras. The winner advances to face the winner of France vs Morocco in the semifinals.
How to watch: In the US, Spain vs Belgium airs on Fox and FOX One.