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Who: Spain vs Belgium
Content: 2026 FIFA World Cup – Quarterfinals
Location: Los Angeles Stadium, California, USA
Date and time: Friday noon (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 15:30 GMT before the live text commentary stream.
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Having shattered the American dream by defeating co-hosts the United States in a politically charged match, Belgium is now preparing for its next big challenge.
They face the difficult task of countering Spain. Spain’s solid defense and careful possession-based football make them one of the bookmakers’ favorites for the tournament.
After showing an unsatisfactory performance in the first match, Spain improved with each match and successfully earned a ticket to the quarterfinals.
They are the first team in history to keep six consecutive clean sheets in a World Cup, a record they achieved on Monday by defeating Portugal and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final bid for a world title.
Belgium’s North American finals run has been a real roller coaster, and things could take a different turn if they defeat the reigning European champions on Friday to reach the semi-finals.
Al Jazeera tells you everything about Spain vs. Belgium:
How did Spain and Belgium reach the quarterfinals?
Spain topped Group H with seven points after defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and drawing with Cape Verde. They started the finals by defeating Austria 3-0 in the round of 32, and defeated Portugal 1-0 with a late goal in the Iberian soccer derby in the round of 16.
Belgium topped Group G with five points after defeating New Zealand and drawing with Iran and Egypt. In the last 32, they defeated Senegal 3-2 in extra time, and in the last 16 they defeated the United States 4-1 in a heated argument over Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.
Courtois is confident Belgium can beat Spain
There is only a five-place difference in the FIFA rankings between Spain and Belgium, with La Roja in 3rd place and Belgium in 8th place, but the difference in quality is quite stark.
Spain, the 2010 world champions, are on a 35-game unbeaten run that has transformed Luis de la Fuente’s side from up-and-coming European champions to a confident and controlling team.
Historically, Belgium have lagged far behind their Spanish counterparts, especially in major competitions, losing in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup and getting eliminated in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
But goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes Belgium can pull off the upset as they have finally started to show some form in this competition with a come-from-behind victory in extra time and strong performances in their last two games.
“Everyone in the team knows that it is possible. I think we have a strong team with qualities that Spain should consider,” Courtois told reporters on Wednesday.
“There are always surprises and I think we can be one of them. Obviously it would be a big upset if we eliminated the European champions. I’m confident in that.
“People were a bit disappointed in us, but we corrected that. We’re getting better and better,” he added of Belgium, whose best result was third at the 2018 World Cup.
For the rest of Belgium’s so-called golden generation, including creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, the World Cup will likely be the last hurrah.
Lukaku was Belgium’s top scorer with three goals, while Leandro Trossard was an all-rounder with two goals and two assists. Charles de Ketelaer and Youri Tielemans also scored two goals each.
“Yamal brings a lot to the team”: Olmo
The prodigiously talented Lamine Yamal, who is slowly finding his feet in his first World Cup appearance, has not enjoyed the hero status he has often been accorded.
The 18-year-old winger, who played at the World Cup with a hamstring injury, has one goal in five games and is on track to catch up with Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s top scorer at the tournament with four goals.
Midfielder Dani Olmo said his Barcelona teammate Yamal is improving ahead of the tournament.
“He brings a lot to the team with his dribbling and his presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opponents come at him and open up space,” he said.
“Lamin scores and assists. He has always done that in his short career and even if he doesn’t, he will continue to help us with the job he does.”
Spain vs Belgium predictions
The Opta supercomputer gives Spain a 59.3 percent chance of winning within the stipulated time, while Belgium has an 18.3 percent chance of winning.
The model estimated a 22.4% chance of a game going into overtime.
Kickoff time, TV program schedule
Spain: LA1, Teledeporte, RTVE Play, DAZN Mundial (9pm CET) Belgium: VRT Max, Tipik, Auvio, Sportz, VRT (9pm CET) UK: STV, STV Player, ITVX, ITV1 (8pm BST) US: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (noon PDT) time; 3 p.m. EDT)
To see the TV listings for your country, visit the FIFA TV listings schedule here.
Who will the winner face in the semifinals?
The winner of Spain vs. Belgium will face France in the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas. France defeated Morocco 2-0 on Thursday to advance to the last four.
direct confrontation
Spain and Belgium have faced each other twice in the World Cup, each achieving a prestigious result with just one win.
The first meeting between the two teams dates back to 1986, when Belgium defeated Spain 5-4 on penalties in the quarter-finals. In 1990, they faced each other in the group stage, with Spain winning 2-1.
Friday’s match will be Belgium’s third quarter-final in four World Cups and fourth overall.
The quarter-finals were rarely a happy hunting ground for Spain. They have only cleared this stage twice, in 1950 when they reached the final group stage and in 2010 when they defeated Paraguay en route to lifting the trophy in South Africa.
team news
Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the remainder of the World Cup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the last match.
No injuries were reported at the Spanish camp.
Expected lineup of Spain national team
(4-2-3-1): Simon (goalkeeper). Polo, Kvarsi, Laporte, Cucurella. Rodri, Pedri. Yamal, Olmo, Baena. oyarzabal
Expected lineup for Belgium
(4-3-3): Courtois (goalkeeper). Castagne, Mechel, Goy, de Kuyper. Tielemans, Ruskin, Vanaken. Lucabakio, De Quetelaere, Trossard
