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Spain and Belgium meet in a blockbuster World Cup quarter-final on Friday. Kick-off is scheduled for 8pm (UK time) on Friday 10th July at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles.
Spain edged past Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16, with substitute Mikel Merino netting a stoppage-time winner to send La Roja into the last eight – and bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Belgium were more emphatic, routing the United States 4-1 in Seattle, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring a brace and Romelu Lukaku adding a late fourth. Spain arrive unbeaten and yet to concede a single goal at this tournament. Belgium arrive having scored nine in five games and carrying the momentum of two consecutive knockout victories. One European giant’s campaign ends in Los Angeles on Friday.
Spain vs Belgium predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mikel Oyarzabal to score anytime | 6/5 @ bet365 (45.5%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Oyarzabal arrives at the quarter-finals as the tournament’s joint-top scorer and carries the form of a striker playing the football of his life. The Real Sociedad forward has scored in four of Spain’s five matches and combines intelligent movement with a clinical left foot that punishes any defensive lapse at the near post. Belgium’s backline conceded three to the USA and four to Senegal across two knockout games — a record that suggests real vulnerability against technically sharp forwards arriving into central areas. Spain will dominate possession in Los Angeles and create chances in volume. Oyarzabal will be central to the most dangerous of them. At the available price, he is the standout individual selection of the quarter-finals. |
| Spain To Score Over 1.5 1st Half Goals | 7/2 @ BOYLE Sports (22.2%) | ⭐⭐ | Spain have scored in the first half in each of their last four matches at this tournament, including two goals before the break against Saudi Arabia and an early opener in both the Austria and Uruguay games. Belgium’s defensive record in knockout football carries a significant warning — they conceded within the opening 20 minutes against both Senegal and the USA, shipping goals before their defensive shape had properly settled. Spain press from the first whistle with an intensity that disrupts defensive organisation immediately, and De la Fuente’s side carry the attacking quality of Yamal, Oyarzabal and Williams to capitalise on those early moments of uncertainty. Against a Belgium backline that has proven vulnerable in the opening exchanges of knockout matches, Spain scoring twice before half-time looks a genuinely compelling proposition at the available price. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Spain vs Belgium
Spain
Spain have been the tournament’s most complete side – five games, seven goals scored, and not a single goal conceded across the entire competition. De la Fuente’s side have won each of their last four matches without the opposition finding the net, a defensive record that stands alone among the quarter-finalists. Merino’s stoppage-time header against Portugal sent the tournament favourite further along an unbeaten path that stretches back to the Nations League final last year.
The manner of the Portugal win raised questions, however. Spain created little of genuine quality across 90 minutes and required a late substitution to decide the tie. De la Fuente admitted after the final whistle that his side “did not play their best football” against Portugal. Belgium offer a completely different kind of challenge – direct, physical and loaded with attacking experience that Portugal simply could not match.
Yamal has returned to his best after managing fitness concerns earlier in the tournament. His performance against Portugal – direct, confident and producing Spain’s most dangerous moments – signals the 18-year-old is ready to deliver on the grandest stage. Oyarzabal remains the tournament’s joint-top scorer and Merino’s late contribution adds a further dimension to Spain’s attacking options from the bench. Los Angeles feels like a venue built for this Spain side.
Belgium
Belgium’s 4-1 win over the United States was their most complete performance of the tournament, combining De Ketelaere’s sharp movement with Lukaku’s predatory finishing and a controlled defensive display that kept the USA’s pressing game largely at bay. Rudi Garcia’s side showed in Seattle that they carry genuine quality across every area of the pitch – and have now scored nine goals in five tournament matches.
De Ketelaere’s tournament has been one of the World Cup’s great individual stories. The Atalanta midfielder arrived with question marks over his international quality and leaves the Round of 16 as Belgium’s joint-top scorer with three goals. His ability to arrive late into the penalty area and finish with precision gives Belgium an attacking threat that Spain’s backline has never faced before.
The concern for Garcia is Belgium’s ageing defensive spine. Courtois remains world class but is 33 years old. Mechele and Theate at centre-back faced significant questions against Senegal before recovering to handle the USA more comfortably. Yamal running at pace against Belgium’s backline represents the most significant individual mismatch of the quarter-finals. Garcia must find a solution on Friday that his predecessors never managed against opponents of this quality.
Spain team news
De la Fuente names an unchanged side after Merino’s heroics against Portugal. Unai Simón continues in goal behind a back four of Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella. That defensive unit has now kept five consecutive clean sheets – a World Cup record for Spain.
Rodri and Pedri continue as the midfield foundation, with Fabián Ruiz providing further quality alongside them. Yamal and Alex Baena provide the attacking width, with Dani Olmo operating centrally behind Oyarzabal. Merino is available from the bench after his match-winning impact against Portugal.
Belgium team news
Garcia faces one selection dilemma heading into Friday. Trossard was substituted during the USA game with what appeared to be a muscle complaint. His fitness ahead of the quarter-final is the most significant team news question for Belgium’s wide attacking options.
Courtois continues in goal. Castagne, Mechele, Theate and De Cuyper retain their defensive positions. Onana has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a knee problem. De Ketelaere leads the attack with Lukébakio on the right. Lukaku is expected to start from the bench once again, providing Belgium their most potent impact option when the game is in the balance. De Bruyne controls the creative midfield role regardless of any other changes.
Head-to-Head
Spain and Belgium have met twice at the World Cup, with the head-to-head record perfectly level. Belgium beat Spain on penalties in the 1986 quarter-finals – the same stage as Friday’s clash – before Spain won 2-1 in the 1990 group stage. Their most recent meeting was a 2-0 friendly win for Spain in 2016. Friday’s quarter-final in Los Angeles settles a rivalry that has been evenly matched across three decades of World Cup history.
Which side will advance to the semi-final?
Spain enter Friday carrying a flawless defensive sheet and the individual brilliance of Yamal at the peak of his powers. Belgium arrive with greater attacking firepower than any previous Spain opponent at this tournament – nine goals in five games compared to Spain’s seven. The winner faces Morocco or France in the semi-finals.
We’re backing Mikel Oyarzabal to be a deciding factor in this contest. 6/5 at bet365 for Oyarzabal to score anytime reflects his outstanding tournament form and his ability to find space even against the most organised defensive blocks.
For a bolder play, Spain to score over 1.5 first half goals at 7/2 at BOYLE Sports reflects his counter-attacking threat, Argentina’s aggressive defensive approach and the inevitability of cynical intervention when a player of his quality runs at World Cup defenders.
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