We have a UEFA showdown between two of Europe’s most accomplished sides over the past 2 decades as part of the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals. Underdogs Belgium take on top contenders Spain in Los Angeles. We offer our predictions for Spain vs Belgium.
Spain vs Belgium (Friday July 10th in Los Angeles)
Steen Kirby: Spain comes off a narrow win over their Iberian rivals Portugal where they didn’t look their best, but ultimately created more chances, and when it mattered most, Ferran Torres and Mikel Merino combined for a late match winner to avoid extra time. While Spain’s Round of 16 was yet another slog this tournament, Belgium comes off their best performance of the World Cup in multiple tournaments, a 4-1 thrashing of a listless and passive United States who were playing on home soil. Now we have Spain vs Belgium.
Belgium were given second life after coming back to beat Senegal 3-2 in the last 32, and they didn’t waste being spared, following up in the next game with a statement win. Rudi Garcia has shown a willingness to make bold changes with Belgium, and he should be tactically flexible enough to at least have hope of competing against a Spanish side that remains a heavy favorite.
Garcia benched Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne against the United States, while both Charles De Ketelaere and Romelo Lukaku have found form as rotating strikers. There’s a question as to whether Doku and De Bruyne return to the XI, but it’s hard to argue they should when Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin have been so pivotal in Belgium’s improved play. Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans have become the current stars of this Belgium side.
Both sides have suffered a major injury, Nico Williams is out for Spain and midfielder Amadou Onana tore his ACL and is out for the tournament as well. Spain also misses Yeremy Pino.
Both teams hacked around the group stage, Spain have maintained a clean sheet all tournament but it’s the third game in five where they were limited to a goal or less in 90 minutes. A defence featuring Aymeric Laporte, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella and Unai Simon has been excellent, and Spain believes they can smother Belgium.
By contrast, only Mikel Oyarzabal, who was relatively silent against Portugal, has multiple goals for his nation this tournament. The fact Belgium’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois plays in La Liga for Real Madrid can’t be discounted, especially if the match ends up going to penalties. He will be familiar with the tendencies and approaches of many of Spain’s attackers.
Are Spain playing their best? It’s hard to argue that’s true, but even at 80% of their best, that’s probably enough to beat a Belgium side that are not defensive stalwarts, while Spain is able to limit the number of opportunities their opponents have to score, in part by controlling the ball.
Prediction: Spain 2-1
Barry Dixon: Fueled by the goings on surrounding their last-16 games against co-hosts the USA, Belgium are hitting form at the right time after a slow start to the tournament and have been lethal in front of goal in the past three games, scoring 12, including the four they put past the US to get to this stage. Now in the quarter-finals, they face Spain, and which Spanish side will turn up to face them is anyone’s guess.
Will it be the Spain side that dispatched Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Austria 3-0, or will it be the team that stuttered to a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde or scraped past Portugal in the last round thanks to a 91st-minute goal to win 1-0? However, where at times their attackers have not produced, their defensive players have been outstanding and are yet to concede a goal in this World Cup, and this will give them every chance of progressing.
This could be a tense affair at the SoFi Stadium in California, with the rock-solid Spanish defence and midfield attempting to keep Belgium’s main men, Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans, from creating and scoring. However, if Lamine Yamal and co can click up front, then Luis de la Fuente’s men could have too much for the Red Devils and see themselves facing either France or Morocco in the semi-finals next week.
Prediction: Spain 2-1
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
