FIFA World Cup

Quarter-finals

ESP Spain Spain - BEL Belgium Belgium

Spain Spain

Belgium Belgium

Fri, 10.07.202619:00 PM

Los Angeles Stadium

0:40

Watch: Belgian fans loving on De Bruyne & his Bundesliga past

3:59

Watch: De Bruyne - Made in the Bundesliga

It was through his impressive time in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg that Belgium's talisman has gone on to become one of the world's best players.

Head-to-head

These two European nations have met 23 times before, with Spain winning 12 to Belgium's five. They last met in a September 2016 friendly, which La Roja won 2-0 to extend their unbeaten run in this fixture to eight games. No Spain current players featured that day, but Thibaut Courtois, Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku all played. The Red Devils' last victory was on penalties at this same stage in the 1986 World Cup (also held in Mexico); their last in 90 minutes was at Euro 1980.

How they got here: Belgium

The Red Devils topped Group G on goal difference ahead of Egypt after a 5-1 win over New Zealand and two draws with Iran and the Pharaohs. Rudi Garcia's side then came from 2-0 down with a dramatic late comeback to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra-time before a more comprehensive 4-1 victory over co-hosts USA in the round of 16.

How they got here: Spain

The European champions are the only team yet to concede a goal at this World Cup and have set a new tournament record of six consecutive clean sheets (going back to 2022), finishing top of Group H with two wins and a goalless draw with Cabo Verde before seeing off Austria 3-0 in the round of 32. Mikel Merino then scored the only goal of the game in the 90th minute to eliminate neighbours Portugal in the last 16.

Welcome!

Follow all of the action as Spain take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals, kicking off at 9pm CEST on Friday, 10 July in Los Angeles.