Spain and Belgium have confirmed their starting line-ups for the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles on Friday night.
The reigning European champions and World Cup winners from 2010 have still not conceded a single goal in the tournament. In the last eight, they beat Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino’s match-winning goal in the 91st minute.
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Charles De Ketelaere scored twice as Belgium – who won bronze in 2018 – knocked out co-hosts USA 4-1.
The winner will face France in the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday (20:00 BST).
World Cup 2026: Spain’s confirmed line-up against Belgium
Spain make one change in midfield – Fabián Ruiz starts in place of Pedri.
Nico Williams is on the bench after an adductor injury that has kept him out for two games. Yeremy Pino is also available – despite a fracture in his collarbone.
Spain’s starting eleven: Unai Simón – Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella – Fabián Ruiz, Álex Baena, Rodri – Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal
Spain’s substitutes: David Raya, Joan García, Marc Pubill, Álex Grimaldo, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martín Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Víctor Muñoz, Borja Iglesias
World Cup 2026: Belgium’s confirmed line-up against Spain
Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku start – Belgium make two changes.
Midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury against the United States – Dodi Lukebakio is relegated to the bench.
Defender Zeno Debast has a calf injury.
Belgium’s starting eleven: Thibaut Courtois – Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy – Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin – Leandro Trossard, Jérémy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere
Belgium substitutes: Senne Lammens, Mike Penders, Arthur Theate, Thomas Meunier, Koni De Winter, Joaquin Seys, Axel Witsel, Diego Moreira, Hans Vanaken, Alexis Saelemaekers, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Matias Fernandez-Pardo
How to watch Spain vs Belgium: TV channel and live streaming
Kick-off Friday at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Streaming via the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website – available on most devices.
World Cup 2026: Key figures – Spain vs Belgium
- The teams last met in September 2016 when Spain won 2-0 in a friendly in Brussels with two goals from David Silva
- Spain are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Belgium – since a 2-1 defeat at Euro 1980 (9 wins, 2 draws)
- In the last five games, Spain have won by an aggregate of 13-1
- This is the third World Cup meeting between the teams – and the second in the quarterfinals. Belgium progressed on penalties in 1986 after a 1–1 draw, while Spain won 2–1 in the group stage in 1990
- La Roja set a World Cup record with his sixth straight clean sheet in the win over Portugal
- Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain have progressed from all six of their knockout matches in major championships
- Only two managers have ever progressed from their first seven knockout matches against European nations: Vittorio Pozzo (Italy, 1934–1938) and Vicente del Bosque (Spain, 2010–2012)
- This is Spain’s sixth World Cup quarter-final – they were eliminated in four of the first five, but beat Paraguay 1-0 in 2010 to go on to win the entire tournament
- Leandro Trossard (2 goals, 2 assists) became the third Belgian on record (since 1966) with both more goals and multiple assists in a World Cup – after Eden Hazard in 2018 and Jan Ceulemans in 1986
- Romelu Lukaku became the second Belgian – after Marc Wilmots in 2002 – to score in three World Cup games in a row
- All three of Lukaku’s goals at this World Cup have come as a substitute – only Cameroon’s Roger Milla (4 in 1990) has scored more from the bench in a World Cup
The Brazilian, who was put in place by Nyland and Ødegaard in the World Cup, has agreed on a transfer to Arsenal
