LIVE – Spain v Belgium: World Cup 2026 – text commentary, updates, goals and stats – De Bruyne, Doku and Fabián Ruiz start
Follow the 2026 World Cup live from Spain – Belgium
Opta Stream
20:00
Spain (4-2-3-1) 0-0 Belgium (4-2-3-1)
FIFA World Cup
Location: Los Angeles Stadium
Referee: Michael Oliver
Luis de la Fuente has only made one change from Spain’s last eight against Portugal – but there is a big one: Pedri is on the bench for the first time in an international championship for La Roja. In comes PSG’s Fabián Ruiz along with Rodri in midfield – while Mikel Merino waits patiently on the bench behind the attacking four consisting of Álex Baena, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and top scorer Mikel Oyarzabal.
Here we see the teams slowly entering the stadium…
BELGIUM’S SUBSTITUTES: Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Arthur Theate, Axel Witsel, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Joaquin Seys, Diego Moreira, Hans Vanaken, Alexis Saelemaekers, Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
BELGIUM (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois – Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin – Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku – Charles De Ketelaere.
SPAIN’S SUBSTITUTES: David Raya, Joan García, Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Ferran Torres, Gavi, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Martín Zubimendi, Pedri, Víctor Muñoz, Borja Iglesias.
SPAIN (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón – Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella – Rodri, Fabián Ruiz – Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena – Mikel Oyarzabal.
COMMENT
Belgium put all the controversy behind them and delivered their best game of the tournament against the United States – crushing their co-hosts 4-1 in Seattle and sending them out of the championship. Rudi García’s side were not fazed by the speculation surrounding Folarin Balogun’s participation – scoring twice in the first half (with a USA equaliser in between) – before adding two more goals in the second half.
COMMENT
Spain waited until the end to beat their neighbours Portugal in the last eight – Mikel Merino came on from the bench and scored the only goal of the game in injury time in the second half. Before that, La Roja had struggled for 90 goalless minutes – in sharp contrast to the big victories over Austria and Saudi Arabia earlier in the tournament. It remains to be seen if they let go of the brakes in this game.
COMMENT
Hello, and welcome to the live broadcast of the second quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup – Spain vs Belgium in Los Angeles. With France already through to the semi-finals after beating Morocco, who will win this purely European clash and face Les Bleus in the semi-finals?
INSIGHTS
- Kevin De Bruyne is playing his 18th World Cup match.
- Thibaut Courtois is playing his 21st World Cup match.
PRE-MATCH INSIGHTS
- Spain have won their last four games against Belgium.
- Spain have kept a clean sheet in their last five games.
- Spain have won their last four home games when Mikel Oyarzabal has scored.
MATCH PREVIEW
Spain will face Belgium on Friday in the World Cup quarter-finals at Los Angeles Stadium.
Spain won their last World Cup match – 1-0 over Portugal in the last eight on July 6. Mikel Merino scored the only goal. They are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions.
Belgium won their quarter-final 4-1 against the United States on July 6. Charles De Ketelaere scored two goals. They are unbeaten in 18 games in a row.
The last time the teams met, Spain won 2-0 in a friendly at the Stade Roi Baudouin in September 2016. David Silva scored both goals – in the 34th and 62nd minutes.
Mikel Oyarzabal has impressed at the World Cup – he is Spain’s top scorer with four goals, tied for 5th place in the tournament – one of which has been the first goal of the match. Belgium’s top scorer is Romelu Lukaku – with three goals.
Both teams are on a good scoring streak: Spain have scored in their last four World Cup games – Belgium in three straight.
In their last six games in all competitions, Spain have won five and drawn one – 12 goals scored and only one conceded. They scored first in five out of six games – seven goals came in the first half, while their opponents did not score before half-time.
Belgium have won four and drawn two in their last six – 18 goals scored and five conceded. They scored first in three out of six – four goals in the first half, while their opponents scored three times before halftime.
Spain can take a step closer to a tempting World Cup semi-final against France when they face Belgium in Los Angeles tonight.
The European champions have looked superior after a slow start against Cape Verde – and still haven’t conceded a single goal in the tournament. With Lamine Yamal on his way to his top level, there could be even more to come from Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Belgium took a stand in the round of 16 against the United States – driven by a sense of injustice surrounding Folarin Balogun’s participation after Donald Trump’s interference. Coach Rudi García made some brave choices – and they paid off: Charles De Ketelaere scored two goals in the 4-1 win.
How to Watch Spain vs Belgium: TV and Live Streaming
Spain vs. Belgium kicks off tonight at 20:00 Norwegian time. The match will be broadcast on BBC One and streamed via BBC iPlayer.
Key figures – Spain v Belgium
- Spain have not lost any of their last 35 matches
- Spain have yet to concede a goal in this World Cup
- This is Spain’s sixth World Cup quarter-final
- Spain have won nine of their last 11 matches against Belgium
- Belgium have progressed from two of their three previous World Cup quarter-finals
- Belgium have not lost any of their last 18 matches
