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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)
The right way 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.
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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 activity of tackling Spain, whose sturdy 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 fashion.
They’re the primary crew 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 succeed in the semifinals.
Al Jazeera tells you all the things 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 towards New Zealand, and drawing with Iran and Egypt. They defeated Senegal 3-2 in further 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 sort of stark.
Spain, the 2010 world champions, are unbeaten in 35 matches, a run that has turned coach Luis de la Fuente’s facet from promising European champions right into a crew 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 crew realises it’s doable. I believe we have now a powerful squad with qualities that Spain should consider,” Courtois instructed reporters on Wednesday.
“There are all the time surprises, and I believe we will be certainly one of them. Eliminating the European champions would clearly be an enormous upset. The boldness is there.
“Individuals had been a bit disenchanted 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 high scorer on the event with three targets whereas Leandro Trossard has made an all-round affect with two targets and two assists. Charles De Ketelaere and Youri Tielemans even have two targets every.
‘Yamal brings a lot to the crew’: Olmo
Slowly discovering his toes in his debut World Cup, the prodigiously gifted Lamine Yamal has not loved the hero’s standing he’s usually 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 harm – 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 crew along with his dribbling and presence. When he receives the ball, two or three opposing gamers shut in on him, which opens up house,” he stated.
“Lamine scores and assists. He’s all the time completed that in his brief profession, and even when he doesn’t, he’ll preserve serving to us with the work he’s doing.”
Spain vs Belgium prediction
The Opta supercomputer provides Spain a 59.3 p.c chance of profitable in regulation time whereas Belgium’s possibilities of profitable are 18.3 p.c.
The mannequin estimated a 22.4 p.c chance of the sport going to further time.
Kickoff time, TV schedule
- Spain: LA1, Teledeporte, RTVE Play, DAZN Mundial (9pm, Central European Summer time Time)
- Belgium: VRT Max, Tipik, Auvio, Sportz, VRT (9pm, Central European Summer time Time)
- United Kingdom: STV, STV Participant, ITVX, ITV1 (8pm, British Summer time Time)
- US: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Community, Peacock (midday, Pacific Daylight Time; 3pm, Jap Daylight Time)
To verify 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 succeed in 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 usually been a contented looking floor. They’ve solely cleared this stage twice, making it to the ultimate group stage in 1950 and beating Paraguay on their method to lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
Group 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 last 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
