Spain v Belgium: 2026 World Cup quarterfinal – live | 2026 World Cup
Important events
“Has Spain been returning to its boring state when it seems that they keep the inheritance just for the sake of it, like they did after they won the Euros for the second time (and tiki taka wasn’t criticized as a bad, defensive tactic, I think Clemente)?” writes David Wall.
“The addition of exciting young players like Williams and Yamal gave the difference to the last Euros, which is probably what made them so successful and so exciting to watch, that they were able to attack in different ways. But with so many players injured or coming back from injuries at the moment that looks very low. If they don’t get it again do you think they can win the tournament?
Feels a little familiar, doesn’t it? But Luis de la Fuente looks a little shaky that Nico Williams is not fit and there are doubts about Lamine Yamal as well. He doesn’t feel good that Victor Muñoz (quick winger) is ready and he has little thoughts about Ferran Torres (quick striker) as well. And they haven’t played a team that will come to see them – Portugal could have done without the 41-year-old – so it makes sense so far. Perhaps dumping Pedri on Fabián Ruiz is an admission that he wants to mix it up a bit today.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo is the Spanish name in the Belgian team. The striker grew up in Belgium with a Spanish father and Italian mother – just two years ago he said he was “absolutely sure” he wanted to play for Spain at world level. The key for the 21-year-old is his pace and he can play on the wing or as a central striker. He came off the bench in each of Belgium’s group games.
Speaking of Belgium, their manager Rudi Garcia was speaking about the “millions and millions” more people who supported his party after the whole Balogun business in the last round.
double quotation mark Conditions will be as tough as they were in the round of 16. We had 12 million Belgian fans and now, in the last few days, I think we have millions and millions behind us; they have joined our ranks and I think that will be good. I think that will give us incredible power. I don’t know what [the atmosphere] it will be like on the field but we will focus on what we have to do. We have enough on our plate with the Spanish team.
“I did my year abroad in Belgium and Germany in 2015/16, and my university in Germany had a big screen outside the canteen showing Euro games,” writes Harry Desmond. “I have a vivid memory of being completely overwhelmed by the Italian fans during Belgium’s opening match. Since then, Les Diables Rouges have been my favorite in the competition after the UK teams.
“Some memories of that tournament include walking 3 kilometers home after Germany’s semi-final because the trams were so full, and cheering Portugal in the final with my Portuguese friends. It will probably always be my favorite football tournament, the social/international experience is really something else.”
My year abroad was in Spain in 2021-22, so I was ruled out of the summer tournament with Qatar later in the year…
“Hola. There’s a name Williams, are you qualified?” Shane Cahill asked.
It seems not. He has played half the football in total in the group stage and has not yet come off the bench in the relegation zone. Álex Baena had a good campaign playing on the left in his position and seemed to give Spain more control when in possession. Perhaps they are waiting to release Williams against France.
Pau Cubarsí also made a real difference alongside Aymeric Laporte…
double quotation mark Cubarsí has been very good. In every speech of Lamine Yamal, the child who overshadows everything else, it is another young person on the other hand who has impressed the most. Born in tiny Estanyol, a town of around 200 people, the son of a carpenter who ran a family business going back four generations, Cubarsí is the second youngest ever to play for Spain. Lamine Yamal is the first. On the day Cubarsí made his Barcelona debut, he and Lamine Yamal were younger than Robert Lewandowski is included.There was something about him that was different from the beginning. “When I look at him, my heartbeat doesn’t change,” said Barcelona coach at the time Xavi Hernández. De la Fuente had given him his Spanish debut and although he decided not to take him to the Euros, judging quickly, that composure is clear here. “It doesn’t look like he’s 19 years old, the way he carries the burden is lovely,” said Simón. Cubarsí has completed 96% of his 449 passes, and not just sideways: 34 of his 71 against Portugal have gone into the opposition half. There were 19 fumble recoveries, 23 pass defenses. Only Paolo Maldini has achieved more clean sheets in more time.
Spain made history by reaching the World Cup without conceding a goal.
As Sid Lowe said in Los Angeles, Unai Simón had to fend off very strong competition to keep the No 1 spot.
double quotation mark Not long ago, Simón admitted that he once wondered if it was worth it. Playing in goals, he says, can be a bit “ungrateful”. The first pages belong to others. The good ones, though: the “sound” was his. Throughout the year, he has been in the middle of the debate. What would he do when Athletic Club is struggling and his rivals are David Raya, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, and Joan García, the best in La Liga? “Okay, I’ll say it: we have the best goalkeepers in the World Cup,” emphasized Simón a few days ago.For Luis de la Fuente, however, it was not a debate, but he insisted on the sound. He had coached Simón all the way in the youth teams, winning them all: Euros under 19 and under 21, Olympic silver, Nations League, Euro 2024. They were almost a family and now look: now Spain feels like Spain again and Simón has made history. No other country has reached the sixth game of the men’s World Cup without conceding a goal.
Players to start the game: De Bruyne and Doku return to Belgium
Spain made one change to the team that beat Portugal, with Fabian Ruiz joining Pedri in midfield. Kevin De Bruyne returns to XI for Belgium after watching USA from the bench – replacing Amadou Onana, who tore his ACL in that game. Jeremy Doku and he is back from the start to replace Dodi Lukébakio.
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Subs: Raya, J García, Pubill, Grimaldo, E García, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Muñoz, Iglesias, Pedri.
In Belgium ( 4-2-3-1 ): Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere.
Subs: Lammens, Penders, Theate, Witsel, Lukaku, Lukébakio, Meunier, De Winter, Seys, Moreira, Vanaken, Saelemaekers, Fernandez-Pardo.
Referee: Michael Oliver (England)
An early dip in the mail bag…
“I hope the Belgians have been practicing their little Trumpian boxing dance since that USA game. It was the only disappointing aspect of an otherwise satisfactory performance. As for the Spanish, the red muleta celebration will be a happy riot for the bull who threatens to end all trade with them. He may find himself giving them a lot of gold in nine days’ time” – Justin Kavanagh
“Hey it’s 1:25 and I’m trying to stay awake for the game. Shades of Qatar where the old sleep falls. I’m hoping Belgium wins. I’ve never enjoyed any Spain game (except Cape Verde, snigger). I’m from Costa Rica so I have no skin in the sweet game as they say sweet sweet in Norway. commenting and so far keeps me awake!” – Alexandra Fullerton
I saw my sweepstakes team doing minute by minute Colombia 0-0 Switzerland (3-4 pence) the other day. I think I kept it together pretty well.
Spain and Belgium today meet for the first time in ten years – which is very impressive considering the founding of the United Nations. They last played in a friendly in September 2016, with Julen Lopetegui and Roberto Martínez in charge of their teams for the first time. Belgium were eliminated in Brussels as David Silva scored twice to beat Spain 2-0.
The last time the two met in a major tournament was Italia 90 – Alberto Górriz scored the winner in Verona to send Spain out as group winners. Their only previous World Cup meeting was in the quarter-finals four years earlier when Belgium won on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Puebla.
The starting line-up will start soon but the preparations in Belgium have been controversial with Sporting over the merits of Zeno Debast. The defender was sitting on the bench for the first time in this World Cup against the USA after missing the start of the tournament due to injury. His club insist he is not fit to play and the Belgian FA said “this assessment is different from that of the Red Devils’ medical staff”. Belgium seems to be committed to the wishes of Sporting and the FA said that he will not play in this quarter-final.
As already mentioned, a formidable French team awaits the winners in this country after getting a little past the gentle Morocco in Boston yesterday.
Jonathan Wilson there were:
double quotation mark How can you stop France? You can defend with good organization and concentration, block and hold and harry and work, your keeper can make two or three very good saves, and one of his forwards scores a goal like that.
It was so Raphaël Jucobin:
double quotation mark In a pre-match press conference, Deschamps admitted that his team can still improve in front of goal. “If the level of the opponent is better, you should have more health,” he emphasized. As Les Bleus prepare to leave the east coast for the first time since arriving in the US for the semi-final in Dallas, there is a sense that they will be moving away from the comfort zone they have established on and off the pitch.
Background
Hello and welcome to the second quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup. After facing the USA (and everything else) in the last 16, the last glimpses of Belgium’s golden generation now have to take on the tournament’s unshakable element. Spain have not conceded a goal after five games and have not reached this level in the World Cup since they won the title in 2010.
While the World Cup pedigree of Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku is undoubted – they beat Brazil in the last quarter-final – we are yet to see the true arrival of Lamine Yamal at this stage. The Barcelona midfielder, who turns 19 on Monday, has registered one goal and no assists in these finals and is perhaps the only star in the world who has yet to make a name for himself. Could today be his day?
The winner of this one will play France (good luck) in the semi-finals next Tuesday in Dallas.
Kick-off in Los Angeles is midday local time, 8pm BST and 5am AEST. Feel free to contact me by email. Let’s go.
