Spain vs Belgium takes place on Friday, July 10, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in a heavyweight Quarter-Final clash. Spain enters as clear favorites after a dominant run, while Belgium will look to produce another surprise and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2018.
Spain have looked like one of the best teams in the tournament, controlling games with possession and flair. Belgium, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, have shown resilience but have been inconsistent at times.
Spain advanced by eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in a tight 1-0 defensive battle.
Belgium dominated the pitch to defeat co-hosts United States 4-1, with Charles De Ketelaere netting two first-half goals.
This promises to be a high-quality battle between technical excellence and physical, counter-attacking football.
Spain vs Belgium Match Details
- Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-Final
- Date & Time: Friday, July 10, 2026 | 3:00 PM ET
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (Los Angeles), California
- Referee: To be confirmed
Spain Preview & Team News
Luis de la Fuente’s side have been one of the standout teams of the tournament. They play with confidence, control games through midfield, and possess the most exciting young attacker in world football.
Key Strengths:
- Lamine Yamal – At just 18, he is already unplayable on his day.
- Rodri & Pedri – The best midfield duo in the tournament right now.
- Nico Williams & Dani Olmo – Direct, clinical, and hardworking.
Team News: Spain are in excellent shape. Lamine Yamal is fully fit and will be the focal point of the attack. De la Fuente is likely to name a strong, balanced side.
Spain Starting XI (4-3-3):
Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams.
Belgium Preview & Team News
Rudi Garcia’s Belgium have shown they can compete with the best but have also been vulnerable at times. They rely heavily on the creativity of Kevin De Bruyne and the goal threat of Romelu Lukaku.
Key Strengths:
- World-class individual talent in De Bruyne and Lukaku.
- Strong set-piece threat and physical presence.
- Experience in big knockout matches.
Team News: Belgium are largely fit. De Bruyne is expected to start and will be their main creator. Lukaku leads the line and remains a constant aerial threat.
Belgium Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Maxim De Cuyper; Amadou Onana, Axel Witsel; Kevin De Bruyne, Charles De Ketelaere, Jérémy Doku; Romelu Lukaku.
Key Battles to Watch
- Lamine Yamal vs Belgium’s full-backs — Can the teenager find space against a compact defense?
- Rodri & Pedri vs De Bruyne & Onana — The midfield battle will decide the game.
- Spain’s Width vs Belgium’s Compact Shape — Nico Williams and Yamal need space to create.
- Set Pieces — Belgium are dangerous from dead balls; Spain must stay alert.
Spain vs Belgium Recent Games Performance
Spain Recent Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jul 3 | vs Austria | W 3-0 |
| Sat, Jun 27 | vs Uruguay | W 1-0 |
| Sun, Jun 21 | vs Saudi Arabia | W 4-0 |
| Mon, Jun 15 | vs Cape Verde | D 0-0 |
Belgium Recent Games
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Jul 7 | vs USA | W 2-1 |
| Sat, Jun 27 | vs Egypt | W 2-0 |
| Tue, Jun 23 | vs Iran | W 3-1 |
| Fri, Jun 19 | vs New Zealand | D 1-1 |
Historic World Cup Head-to-Head
This match marks the third time Spain and Belgium have met at a FIFA World Cup. Their tournament rivalry is completely deadlocked
- 1986 (Quarterfinals): Belgium advanced past Spain via a tense penalty shootout.
- 1990 (Group Stage): Spain claimed a 2-1 revenge victory to top their shared group.
Match Prediction: Spain 2-1 Belgium
Spain are the better team on paper and have shown more consistency throughout the tournament. With Yamal in this form and the midfield dominance of Rodri and Pedri, they should control the game for long periods and eventually break Belgium down.
Belgium will make it uncomfortable. They have quality on the counter and can punish any lapses in concentration. However, Spain’s technical superiority and depth should see them through to the semi-finals.
- Most likely scoreline: Spain 2-1 Belgium
Venue Spotlight: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium will host one of the biggest quarter-finals of the tournament. With its world-class facilities and passionate atmosphere, it promises an electric night with strong Spanish and Belgian support mixed with local American fans.
How to Watch Spain vs Belgium in the USA & Canada
In the United States, the Spain vs Belgium FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match can be watched on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). In Canada, the match is exclusively broadcast on TSN (English) and RDS (French).
- English: FOX or FS1
- Spanish: Telemundo / Universo
- Streaming: Peacock, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV
Final Thoughts
This is a classic clash of flair and youth versus experience and physicality. Spain are favorites and should advance, but Belgium have the individual quality to cause problems on their day.
Will Lamine Yamal produce another magic moment, or can Kevin De Bruyne and Belgium pull off a surprise?
