Friday, 10 July | Los Angeles Stadium
12:00 (Los Angeles) | 21:00 (Madrid) | 21:00 (Brussels)
Spain and Belgium meet in Los Angeles with a place in the semi-finals at stake. Both nations emerged from the group stage as unbeaten section winners, with La Roja then producing one of the standout performances of the Round of 32 to sweep aside . Luis de la Fuente's side won a tight Iberian derby with Portugal in the last 16 thanks to a from Mikel Merino, booking Spain a third successive knockout match against European opposition.
Belgium, meanwhile, have enjoyed a topsy-turvy, goal-filled knockout stage so far. Seemingly down and out when losing 2-0 to Senegal in the Round of 32, the Red Devils rallied to snatch a famous . Against co-hosts USA in the Round of 16, it was more straightforward as Charles De Ketelaere's first-half double set Belgium on their way to a in Seattle.
For the Red Devils, this World Cup – and especially each knockout match – represents the likely final hurrah of the last vestiges of the nation's fabled golden generation. Coach Rudi Garcia still relies on several of Belgium's veterans, with Kevin De Bruyne a creative reference point, Thibaut Courtois a commanding last line of defence and Romelu Lukaku a world-class finisher who has joined the pantheon of great World Cup goalscorers at this tournament. Lukaku's three strikes in North America have put him level with Diego Maradona, Rudi Voller and Rivaldo on eight World Cup goals.
The clash with Spain is Belgium's third quarter-final in four World Cups and fourth overall; the Red Devils beat La Roja at this stage in 1986 and Brazil in 2018, sandwiching a loss to Argentina in 2014. For Spain, the quarter-finals have not often been a happy hunting ground. They have only cleared the last eight twice, making it to the final group stage in 1950 and beating Paraguay on their way to lifting the trophy in South Africa 60 years later.
With Rodri the midfield anchor, Pedri and Dani Olmo bringing craft between the lines and Lamine Yamal continuing to show why he is one of the tournament's most exciting talents, a showdown with Belgium offers the 2010 champions another chance to show that their new generation is ready to add to that historic World Cup triumph.
Unai Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin, Onana; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Trossard
Spain and Belgium have met twice before at the FIFA World Cup™, with honours even at one victory apiece. Their first encounter came in the 1986 quarter-finals, when the Red Devils edged past their opponent courtesy of a penalty shoot-out. Jan Ceulemans fired Belgium ahead before Juan Senor equalised five minutes from time to force extra time. Neither side could find a winner, and Belgium prevailed 5-4 on spot-kicks, with Leo Van der Elst converting the decisive effort to send his side into the semi-finals.
The two nations met again four years later in the group stage at Italy 1990, with Spain gaining their revenge in a 2-1 victory. Michel opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Patrick Vervoort levelled for Belgium, only for defender Alberto Gorriz to restore Spain's lead. The result secured top spot in Group E for Spain, although Belgium also progressed to the Round of 16 as runners-up
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Los Angeles Stadium is the newest venue chosen to host FIFA World Cup 2026™, having opened in September 2020. It is situated just a 30-minute drive from Pasadena's famous Rose Bowl Stadium, which hosted the World Cup final in 1994. Both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers play their NFL fixtures at the venue, which also hosted Super Bowl LVI as the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in 2022. Los Angeles Stadium has already hosted a number of concerts under its iconic and unique roof, with Taylor Swift, BTS and Ed Sheeran among the artists to have graced the venue.
Sources: FIFA Official
