Spain face Belgium in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on Friday at 8pm (UK time).
Euro 2024 winners Spain are looking to be both reigning European and world champions for the second time in their history. They achieved the feat for the first time in 2010, adding the World Cup to their Euro 2008 success. And La Roja are still in with a good chance. After drawing their first group stage match, Spain have won their past four, and they’re still yet to concede a goal. Finishing top of their group, Spain have beaten Austria and rivals Portugal to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.
Belgium are in the World Cup quarter-finals for the third time in four tournaments, bouncing back from the group-stage exit four years ago. They haven’t been entirely convincing, taking five points from their three group games. But that was still enough to secure top spot. That set up a last-32 tie against Senegal and Belgium looked to be on their way out, before a dramatic comeback after extra time. Belgium were a lot more convincing in their last-16 win, though, humbling co-hosts United States with a 4-1 victory.
This will be the 23rd meeting between these two sides, with Spain winning 12 to Belgium’s five. They have also met twice at World Cups, with Belgium knocking Spain out in 1986 and La Roja winning a group-stage match four years later.
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Spain vs Belgium team news
Spain team news
Luis de la Fuente named an unchanged starting lineup for the win over Portugal, and he could do the same here. Pedro Porro looks to have won the battle against Marcos Llorente to be Spain’s right-back, with three starts across the tournament. The rest of the backline has remained the same, with Marc Cucurella on the left and a centre-back partnership of Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte.
The midfield looks to be settled too. Much like Porro, Dani Olmo looks to have found favour in the midfield, with three starts to his name. The first came in a midfield three, but he has been pushed further forward as a No.10 in the past two matches. Pedri and Rodri have been ever-present, and have formed the double pivot since a switch to a 4-2-3-1.
Lamine Yamal has been a must-start for Spain since being a substitute in the opening match, having just returned from injury. He was always going to be the key man for La Roja as the tournament went on. Alex Baena has largely started on the left, having replaced Gavi after the first game. Nico Williams was expected to feature in this role but he continues to struggle with fitness. Mikel Oyarzabal has been the first-choice striker in all five matches so far.
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Belgium team news
Rudi Garcia made a couple of changes to his team for their win against United States, with a lot of success. But there will be at least one more alteration for this game. Amadou Onana sadly suffered an ACL injury midway through the first half, and will miss the rest of the tournament. It was just his second start of the World Cup, with Hans Vanaken coming in to replace him.
Vanaken could start again, but not alongside Nicolas Rankin. Despite the improved performance against the USA, Garcia may opt to bring Kevin De Bruyne back into the starting lineup. That will see Youri Tielemans drop back alongside Vanaken as the double pivot, with Nicolas Raskin missing out. Jeremy Doku could also return to the starting lineup, joining Leandro Trossard and Charles De Ketelaere.
Further back, Nathan Ngoy returned to the starting lineup for the first time since his sending off in the second match. So he’s likely to continue alongside Brandon Mechele. Timothy Castagne and Maxim De Cuyper are expected to be the full-backs, with Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Spain vs Belgium predicted lineups
Spain (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; De Ketelaere.
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