National Sports
Spain vs. Belgium World Cup Quarterfinal: What to Know Before the Match
The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals continue Friday as Spain takes on Belgium in a matchup featuring two of Europe's top soccer nations.
Spain enters the match as one of the tournament favorites after remaining unbeaten throughout the competition. La Roja has also been dominant defensively, allowing no goals through its first five World Cup matches.
The Spanish squad features some of the biggest names in international soccer, including 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, along with midfield stars Rodri, Pedri, and Dani Olmo.
But Belgium enters the matchup with plenty of experience and players capable of creating problems for Spain. Veteran stars including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku remain key pieces, while younger attackers such as Jérémy Doku, Leandro Trossard, and Dodi Lukébakio provide speed and offensive threats.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could also play a major role. The longtime star has built a reputation for delivering in high-pressure matches on some of soccer's biggest stages.
The winner of Spain vs. Belgium will advance to the World Cup semifinals to face France, which reached the final four after defeating Morocco 2-0.
Meanwhile, France is monitoring the health of Kylian Mbappé after the star forward left the quarterfinal win with an ankle concern. Team officials say the injury does not appear to be serious.
The 2026 World Cup has also seen changes in ticket demand. After the United States and Mexico were eliminated, ticket prices for some quarterfinal matches dropped significantly as fan demand shifted.
Spain and Belgium kick off Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
This story was originally published by CNN Newsource.
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By: CNN Newsource
July 10, 2026
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