Spain vs Belgium live online: score, updates, stats, goals & highlights | FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal

Belgium injury report

Belgium have a couple of names on their injury report, and one of them is a big loss. Aston Villa's Amadou Onana only started one match in the World Cup before getting the nod against the US, but had to be subbed off in the 21st minute after suffering a ruptured ACL. His teammates honored him by holding up his jersey after Lukaku scored the fourth goal against the US. Zeno de Bast is also out for a sixth straight match. He was on the bench for the US match but didn’t play a minute. He’ll be back on the bench today, but is unlikely to see much action.

World Cup 2026

What is Spain’s record against Belgium? All-time head-to-head record ahead of 2026 World Cup quarterfinals

World Cup record between ESP and BEL

This is just the third time these two giants for Europe have played in the World Cup. Jennifer Bubel has all the information about the preview matches that these two teams have met in this competition. 

Where are we?

We are in Los Angeles for this massive quarterfinal match between Belgium and Spain. This stadium is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. It is one of the newest stadiums in the country, and the most modern stadium in this World Cup. The foreign fans have been in amazement with the stadiums in this tournament and the LA Stadium has been a fan favorite over the course of the last month. This is the final match in LA as Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta and New York/New Jersey will host the remaining matches of the tournament.

Golden Boot race

Having a look at the Golden Boot race we don't see anyone from this match up in the list of top goal scorers. Lukaku leads Belgium with 3 goals while Oyarzabal leads Spain with 4 goals. That’s a far cry behind Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi who both have eight goals. Behind them is Erling Haaland with seven and then Harry Kane with six. Ousmane Dembele has five goals to round out the top five.

Quite a shake up for the Belgium side that played against the US. De Bruyne and Doku are in the XI after starting last game on the bench. Lukaku will come off the bench if he is needed as he continues to find his fitness after an injury plagued season. 

World Cup odds

Spain came into the tournament as one of the favorites, if not the favorite along with France. Since the start of the group stages, France has looked a cut above the rest and that’s why they are paying 5/2 and the best bet in the eyes of the oddsmakers. Spain is paying 11/2 the same as England and Argentina. Norway are 17/1 while Belgium are the biggest long shot at 34/1 according to Bet365.com.

Maybe a bit of a shock for this Spain side. Pedri starts the match on the bench and Fabian takes his place. Other than that it's par for the course for Luis de la Fuente. 

FIFA Rankings

Taking a look at the ever changing FIFA Rankings, we see France has taken over the top spot from Argentina who have been bumped down to second after two tough games against Cabo Verde and Egypt. Spain are in third with England sitting right behind them in fourth. Brazil, Morocco and Portugal are fifth, sixth and seventh, but they are knocked out of the tournament and Belgium are sitting in eighth ahead of Netherlands and Mexico who round out the top 10.

Stoppage time winners

This World Cup has been one of the intense, exciting, dramatic tournaments ever, and if you need any proof of that just look at all of the stoppage time goals that have been scored in this edition of the World Cup. Belgium had two late goals against Senegal, and Spain won their round of 16 game against Portugal in stoppage time. Don't be surprised if this game is won in added time from the city that lives off of drama.

World Cup history: Spain

Spain has one World Cup star above the badge on their jersey. That came in 2010 when they beat the Netherlands in the final. It took an extra time goal from Andres Iniesta, but since the World Cup title Spain haven't been a force in the World Cup. They have only been to the semis one other time aside in 2010 and that was all the way back in 1950. They are a win away from their third trip to the semis and three wins away from their second star.

World Cup history: Belgium

Belgium have been around since the very first World Cup back in 1930. While we consider the last three World Cups as the golden generation of this country, they have been to the semifinals before this era. That came back in 1986 when they went all the way to the final four, beating the Soviet Union and Spain before losing to Argentina in the semis. They got back to the Semis in the 2018 World Cup in Russia beating Japan and Brazil in the knockout stages but losing to the eventual champions, France 1-0 in the semis. They are one win away from the semis, but this will be their toughest match of the tournament.

The “G”old generation?

This is the last call for Belgium's so called golden generation. Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thiabaut Courtois are still holding on to dream that was laid out eight years ago when Belgium had a stacked team with players like Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, Axel Witsel and Jan Vertonghen. Those players came and went without ever fulfilling the expectations of a team built to win a World Cup but before the torch is passed from the old guard, De Bruyne, Lukaku and Courtois have won last chance. They are three wins away, but they will need help from the new generation.

The other Yamal

While it hasn't exactly been Lamine Yamal’s tournament, another one of the Yamals has stolen the spotlight during this World Cup. His brother Kenye is an icon and one of the favorite fans of this tournament. The “Little Lamine” has gained his own bit of stardom over the last few weeks, and the world is falling in love with the youngster and the relationship he has with his world class brother. Kenye will be in the stands cheering on Lamine and Spain, and might just be the good luck charm for this side looking for it’s second star.

World Cup record

It should come as no surprise that the clean sheet streak is a World Cup record. Unai Simon's spell of World Cup matches without conceding a goal stretches back to Qatar 2022. The last goal he allowed came in the final group stage match against Japan when they scored the 2-1 in the 51st minutes and ended up stunning Spain. Simon held Morocco to a goalless 0-0 draw that Spain eventually lost in a shootout to go crashing out of the tournament four years ago. Simon brought that streak into this tournament and now has gone a total of 609 minutes without conceding a goal in the World Cup, shattering the previous record of 519 set by Italy’s Walter Zenga in 1990.

Spain's clean sheets

When you look at the result list for Spain in this World Cup you begin to understand just how hard it is to beat this team. Defensively they have been perfect heading into the quarterfinals of this tournament. Five matches and zero goals conceded. Give credit to Unai Simon who has been fantastic in goal for Spain, but the back four have been impenetrable. Just how long can this clean sheet streak last for Spain?

Star watch: Belgium

He may not start many matches, but he has been the biggest difference maker on this Belgium side. Romelu Lukaku has played at the biggest clubs and scored some massive goals over the course of his career. The Napoli man may be a bit past his prime at 33 years old, but he still has a knack for scoring goals. He has scored goals in each of the last three matches, and was responsible for an own goal scored by Egypt in the opener. He is Mr. Reliable for Belgium despite carrying a hip injury into this tournament.

Star watch: Spain

After a sensational Euros as a 16 year old, there was plenty expected from Lamine Yamal coming into this World Cup. It hasn't been that same sort of explosive performance for the Spanish youngster, and the injury he carried into the tournament could be a big reason why. He came off the bench in the first two matches of the group stages, couldn’t finish the 90 against Uruguay and while he did start in that game and the last two knockout matches, his impact has been minimal. He’s got just one goal and no assists, but he is getting fitter and fitter as the tournament goes on. This could be his day to shine, and remind everyone that he is one of the best in the world.

How they got here: Belgium

Belgium had to sweat it out in the group stages after draws to Egypt and Iran. In the final match of group stages, Rudi Garcia's team knew they had to beat New Zealand to guarantee themselves a spot in the knockout rounds. They would deliver with a 5-1 win and meet Senegal in the round of 32. Again they left it late, down by two goals to Senegal in the 85th minute but they scored two goals before the final whistle to push the match to extra time and a penalty in the final minute of stoppage time would see them through to the round of 16. They beat USA easily and now take on one of the top teams in the tournament.

How they got here: Spain

It wasn't the prettiest of starts to the tournament for this Spain side. Little did we know that Cabo Verde would end up being the surprise of the tournament, but their draw against Spain sparked some doubts about just how good this team really is. A 4-0 win over Saudi and a 1-0 win over Uruguay sealed the top spot in the group for Spain and that set them up with a match against Austria in the round of 32. They won that game with ease, breezing past the Austrians 3-0 but found it much tougher last round against Portugal. Their defense has been the foundation throughout the tournament, not allowing a single goal in the first five matches of the tournament.

Last game: Belgium

It was maybe the most talked about match of the tournament so far. A red card that was “suspended” in some suspicious circumstances made for a fiery lead up to the round of 16 match between Belgium and the USMNT. Belgium unleashed their frustration on the co-hosts, putting four past the US, and rolling into the quarters. It started in the 9th minute when Charles De Ketelaere scored the opener from a pass by Nicolas Raskin. The US leveled things with a Malik Tillman free kick, but De Ketelaere gave Belgium the lead back with a header over Tim Ream to secure his first half brace. The third goal came after a blunder in the back by keeper Matt Freese as Hans Vanaken tucked home a shot with on an empty net. Romelu Lukaku polished off the victory with a stoppage time goal to sweeten the deal for the Belgium and send the US crashing out of the tournament.

Belgium starting XI

Rudi Garcia has his XI ready for the quarterfinal against Spain. It's Courtois in goal with Castagne, Ngou, Mechele and DeCuyper in the back. De Bruyne is back in the XI with Tielemans and Raskins in the middle. Doku and Trossard will be out wide and De Ketelaere at the point of attack.

Spain starting XI

Luis de la Fuente has his XI for this quarterfinal match against Belgium and it looks like this: Unai Simon in goal with Pedro Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte and Cucurella in the back. In the middle it's Fabian, Rodrigo and Dani Olmo with Baena and Lamine Yamal out wide and Oyarzabal up top.

Last game: Spain

It was another European showdown in the round of 16 as Spain took on their Iberian peninsula neighbors, Portugal. The match was tight, it was tense and it was decided in the first minute of stoppage time. Two substitutes made by coach Luis de la Fuente combined for the lone goal that pushed Spain through to the quarters when Ferran Torres found Mikel Merino with a slicing ball through the area and the Arsenal man slotted it home past Diogo Costa for the stoppage time winner.

We are live from Los Angeles

Hello everyone and welcome to Inglewood where the Spanish national team come into the quarterfinals still considered one of the favorites but they narrowly escaped the round of 16 and realize the road only gets tougher from here until the finish line. Belgium overcame an overturned red card for USA's Folarin Balogun and used it to fuel the fire in their round of 16 match. Spain are young, they ready to win now, and they showed that in the Euros two years ago. Belgium are aging, and know this could be their last chance for a golden generations that is losing it’s shine.

Spain vs. Belgium

We have one semifinalist already qualified for the next round of the World Cup and today a second side will book their ticket to the final four of the tournament. Spain and Belgium are set for a showdown of European soccer superpowers and AS English will be with you all day providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight's game from Los Angeles.