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Who: Spain vs Belgium
What: FIFA World Cup 2026 – quarterfinal
The place: Los Angeles Stadium in California, United States
When: Friday at midday (19:00 GMT)
Methods to comply with: We could have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 15:30 GMT earlier than our stay textual content commentary stream.
Really useful Tales
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After crushing the “American dream” by taking down cohosts USA in a politically influenced encounter, Belgium are gearing up for his or her subsequent massive problem.
They face the daunting job of tackling Spain, whose strong defence and cautious, possession-based soccer have made them one of many bookmakers’ favourites on the event.
Since an unconvincing efficiency within the first match, Spain have improved with every contest and punched their ticket to the quarterfinals in type.
They’re the primary staff in historical past to maintain six consecutive World Cup clear sheets – a report achieved by taking out Portugal on Monday and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s last bid for a world title.
Belgium’s knockout marketing campaign in North America has been nothing wanting a roller-coaster, and are available Friday, it may take one other flip in the event that they upset the reigning European champions to achieve the semifinals.
Al Jazeera tells you the whole lot about Spain vs Belgium:
How did Spain and Belgium attain the quarterfinals?
Spain topped Group H with seven factors, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and drawing with Cape Verde. They started their knockout marketing campaign with a 3-0 thrashing of Austria within the spherical of 32 earlier than beating Portugal 1-0 with a late objective in an Iberian soccer derby within the spherical of 16.
Belgium topped Group G with 5 factors, profitable in opposition to New Zealand, and drawing with Iran and Egypt. They defeated Senegal 3-2 in additional time within the spherical of 32 earlier than thrashing the USA 4-1 within the final 16 contest that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun’s red card ban.
Courtois is assured Belgium can take down Spain
There could also be solely 5 spots between Spain’s and Belgium’s FIFA rankings with La Roja third and Belgium eighth, however the hole of their high quality is kind of stark.
Spain, the 2010 world champions, are unbeaten in 35 matches, a run that has turned coach Luis de la Fuente’s aspect from promising European champions right into a staff that exert assured management over their opponents.
Traditionally, Belgium have been far behind their Spanish counterparts, particularly at main tournaments, having been knocked out within the group stage on the 2022 World Cup and within the final 16 at Euro 2024.
But goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes Belgium can pull off an upset after lastly starting to indicate some kind on the event with a come-from-behind extra-time win and a press release efficiency of their final two video games.
“Everybody on our staff realises it’s attainable. I feel we’ve a powerful squad with qualities that Spain should bear in mind,” Courtois informed reporters on Wednesday.
“There are at all times surprises, and I feel we may be certainly one of them. Eliminating the European champions would clearly be an enormous upset. The boldness is there.
“Individuals have been a bit disillusioned in us, however we’ve set that proper. We’re getting higher and higher,” he added about Belgium, whose greatest end was third place on the 2018 World Cup.
The World Cup is probably going the final hurrah for the rest of Belgium’s so-called golden technology, together with inventive midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku is Belgium’s prime scorer on the event with three targets whereas Leandro Trossard has made an all-round impression with two targets and two assists. Charles De Ketelaere and Youri Tielemans even have two targets every.
‘Yamal brings a lot to the staff’: Olmo
Slowly discovering his ft in his debut World Cup, the prodigiously gifted Lamine Yamal has not loved the hero’s standing he’s typically used to.
With one objective in 5 video games, the 18-year-old winger – who got here into the World Cup on the again of a hamstring damage – is enjoying catch-up with Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s main event scorer with 4 targets.
Midfielder Dani Olmo stated his Barcelona teammate Yamal is rising into the event.
“He brings a lot to the staff together with his dribbling and presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opposing gamers shut in on him, which opens up area,” he stated.
“Lamine scores and assists. He’s at all times completed that in his brief profession, and even when he doesn’t, he’ll hold serving to us with the work he’s doing.”
Spain vs Belgium prediction
The Opta supercomputer offers Spain a 59.3 % probability of profitable in regulation time whereas Belgium’s possibilities of profitable are 18.3 %.
The mannequin estimated a 22.4 % likelihood of the sport going to additional time.
Kickoff time, TV schedule
- Spain: LA1, Teledeporte, RTVE Play, DAZN Mundial (9pm, Central European Summer season Time)
- Belgium: VRT Max, Tipik, Auvio, Sportz, VRT (9pm, Central European Summer season Time)
- United Kingdom: STV, STV Participant, ITVX, ITV1 (8pm, British Summer season Time)
- US: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Community, Peacock (midday, Pacific Daylight Time; 3pm, Japanese Daylight Time)
To examine the TV listings on your nation, head to FIFA’s TV itemizing schedule here.
Who will the winner face within the semifinals?
The winner of the Spain vs Belgium match will face France within the semifinals on Tuesday in Dallas, Texas. France defeated Morocco 2-0 on Thursday to achieve the last-four.
Head-to-head
Spain and Belgium have met twice on the World Cup with honours even at one victory apiece.
Their first assembly dates again to 1986 when Belgium beat Spain 5-4 on penalties within the quarterfinals. Then they met within the group stage in 1990 with Spain profitable 2-1.
Friday’s match will probably be Belgium’s third quarterfinal in 4 World Cups and fourth general.
For Spain, the quarterfinals haven’t typically been a cheerful searching floor. They’ve solely cleared this stage twice, making it to the ultimate group stage in 1950 and beating Paraguay on their approach to lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Staff information
Belgium’s midfielder Amadou Onana will miss the rest of the World Cup after struggling a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his proper knee over the past match.
No accidents have been reported within the Spain camp.
Spain’s predicted lineup
(4-2-3-1): Simon (goalkeeper); Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Belgium’s predicted lineup
(4-3-3): Courtois (goalkeeper); Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin, Vanaken; Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, Trossard
