After one-day break during the week, the World Cup 2026 continues tonight with the second of four quarter-finals. Spain, winners for the first time 16 years ago, face another tricky test in the form of an ever-improving Belgium side. These two teams met have met twice before at a World Cup and it's one win apiece. Whoever emerges victorious this time in Los Angeles, will set up a semi-final showdown against France.
Five straight clean sheets and four consecutive wins means La Roja will start the game as favourites in their quest for another European Championships and World Cup double. But after needing a stoppage time winner from Mikel Merino to see off Portugal in the last-16, there are concerns that a lack of firepower could cost Spain at some point in the tournament.
As for Belgium, this is no longer the 'golden generation' that failed to deliver, yet there are plenty of reasons to be positive heading into tonight’s game, having turned a corner by scoring 12 goals in their last three outings. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis.
Spain vs Belgium latest news
- Kick-off: 8pm BST | Los Angeles Stadium
- How to watch: BBC
- Spain team news
- Belgium team news
- Standard Sport prediction
Some stat!
19:17 , Oli Gent
Belgium have scored more goals through substitutes than any other side at the 2026 World Cup (5).
◉ 3 - Romelu Lukaku
◉ 1 - Alexis Saelemaekers◉ 1 - Hans Vanaken
Opta probability...
19:10 , Oli Gent
Who will win this one?
Opta Probability for Spain vs. Belgium:
— Squawka Bet (@SquawkaBet) July 10, 2026
◎ 58.3% - 🇪🇸
◎ 22.6% - 🤝
◎ 19.1% - 🇧🇪
Who are you backing? 🤔#FIFAWorldCup | @bet365 #Ad https://t.co/2PFw7fXGdY
Arrivals!
19:04 , Oli Gent
GAMEFACE: 🔛. #ESPBEL pic.twitter.com/XssPzePEE1
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 10, 2026
Belgium lineup
18:52 , Oli Gent
Belgium XI: Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Raskin; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; De Ketalaere
Subs: Lammens, Penders, Debast, Theate, Meunier, De Winter, Seys, Witsel, Vanaken, Lukaku, Lukebakio, Moreira, Saelemaekers, Fernandez-Pardo
Spain lineup
18:45 , Oli Gent
Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Fabian, Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Subs: Garcia, Raya, Pubill, Grimaldo, Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Zubimendi, Torres, Williams, Iglesias
Predicted XIs
18:37 , Oli Gent
Who will start for both sides this evening?
Standard Sport had a go at predicting both lineups...
Predicted Belgium XI: Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Theate, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Raskin; Trossard, Tielemans, Doku; Lukaku
Predicted Spain XI (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Head to head
18:30 , Oli Gent
Spain wins: 12
Belgium wins: 5
Draws: 5
Standard Sport prediction
18:22 , Oli Gent
Not many will have predicted Belgium to be here. Far from convincing in their opening two group games, trailing by two in the 85th minute against Senegal before taking on the host nation in the last 16.
However, facing Spain will be a step up and we think it will be a game too far for the Red Devils with the European champions improving with each match.
Spain to win, 2-0.
Spain team news
18:15 , Oli Gent
As ever, Spain have concerns over Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino as the pair are yet to be available for any of the knockout games.
New Liverpool signing Victor Munoz has recovered from a knock that forced him to miss the rest of the group phase, but is unlikely to start or feature here.
Spain squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia
Defenders: Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo
Midfielders: Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena
Forwards: Yeremy Pino, Victor Munoz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias
Belgium team news
18:07 , Oli Gent
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia has made big decisions throughout the tournament and in the last-16 win over the USA, he opted to leave both Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on the bench.
However, he will be forced into making at least one change after Amadou Onana was ruled after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cuyper, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
How to watch
18:00 , Oli Gent
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 7.30pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer and the BBC website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer / ITVX app and their websites.
Suspension risks
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Due to an extra round of games being added at this World Cup, because of the expansion from 32 teams to 48, FIFA have adjusted their yellow card laws.
In previous years, if a player received two yellow cards across any of the matches before the semi-final, they received an automatic one-game suspension.
However, under FIFA's new regulations, yellow cards are wiped twice throughout the tournament. The first was after the group stage and the next will be after the quarter-finals.
Here are the Spain and Belgium players who are one yellow card away from missing a potential World Cup semi-final.
Spain: Ferran Torres
Belgium: Brandon Mechele
Today's settings
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
The Los Angeles Stadium stages the second World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash.
Spain won here in their round of 32 clash against Austria eight days ago, while Belgium could only draw 0-0 with Iran during the group phase.
Captain material: Spain
17:00 , Ronan Sullivan
Manchester City and Ballon D’or-winning midfielder Rodri is Spain’s captain for the 2026 World Cup.
After a tricky couple of seasons since he injured his knee against Arsenal in 2024, Rodri has looked back to his best at the tournament.
He took over from Alvaro Morata, who had captained the squad from 2023 to 2025 but is not in Luis de la Fuente’s squad this time around.
He first took the captaincy in 2023 against Scotland, and has held the armband 10 times in total, including in every game of the tournament so far.
Captain material: Belgium
16:45 , Ronan Sullivan
Despite Kevin de Bruyne holding the armband in previous tournaments, this time round Rudi Garcia has kept his faith with 29-year-old Youri Tielemans.
The Aston Villa midfielder has repaid that faith, with his two goals against Senegal in the round of 32 seeing his side through.
He first captained his side under Roberto Martinez in 2022 against Ireland, and has done so 15 times since then, including every game at this World Cup.
Zeno Debast set to miss out
16:30 , Ronan Sullivan
A slightly strange controversy is emerging around Belgium defender Zeno Debast.
The Athletic are reporting his club side Sporting CP have declared Debast unfit, after he entered the tournament with an injury. He is yet to feature.
Now, the Belgium FA have confirmed he will miss the quarter-final match, stating Sporting’s “assessment differs from that of the Red Devils’ medical staff, as well as FIFA’s medical and insurance authorities”.
He will now train alone. A very strange situation.
Belgium squad: London representatives
16:15 , Ronan Sullivan
Who have Belgium got in their squad representing a London side?
They have three: goalkeeper Mike Penders (Chelsea), right-back Timothy Castagne (Fulham) and winger Leandro Trossard (Arsenal).
Spain squad: London representatives
16:00 , Ronan Sullivan
Spain have five London-based players in their squad.
These are: goalkeeper David Raya (Arsenal), right-back Pedro Porro (Tottenham), midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino (both Arsenal) and winger Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace).
Who will the winners face?
15:45 , Ronan Sullivan
Spain and Belgium fans might want to look away now: if they win tonight’s quarter-final, lying in wait is the imperious and seemingly unstoppable France.
Didier Deschamps’ side have positively strolled through to the semi-finals, beating Morocco 2-0 in their own quarter-final clash thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
Mbappe is on eight goals for this tournament, level with Lionel Messi and one behind the Argentina great in the all-time World Cup scoring charts (Mbappe has 20 to Messi’s 21).
They previously swatted aside Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32 before an ill-tempered and tight 1-0 win over Paraguay, who had previously vanquished Germany.
But who knows what could happen in 90 minutes, right?
Williams available?
15:30 , Ronan Sullivan
Rumours are flying around the Twittersphere Nico Williams WILL be available for tonight’s clash, alongside new Liverpool signing Victor Munoz.
That would be a huge boost for Spain. Williams didn’t feature against Austria or Portugal in the knockouts.
Here he is training yesterday.
Spain vs Belgium at the World Cup
15:15 , Ronan Sullivan
Belgium and Spain’s history at the World Cup lacks recency, but is no less poignant - perhaps moreso for the Red Devils.
The first time these sides ever met on the biggest stage, Belgium knocked La Roja out of the 1986 World Cup during the quarter-final stage on penalties, with ‘keeper Jean-Marie Pfaff the hero with his save from Spain’s Eloy. They eventually finished fourth.
They also met in 1990, where Spain won, but both teams were dumped out at the group stage.
Through the years: Belgium at the World Cup
15:00 , Ronan Sullivan
Belgium’s prominence as an actual force at international tournaments has only come on in the last decade or so, thanks to their so-called “Golden Generation”.
The likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard formed a huge part of a side who came close to winning the 2018 edition.
However, a semi-final loss to France saw them eventually finish in third place - their best-ever finish.
Otherwise, the Red Devils have finished fourth once, been eliminated during the group stage six times, exited at the round of 16 three times, and departed at the quarter-finals stage once.
Through the years: Spain at the World Cup
14:45 , Ronan Sullivan
Spain, of course, won their first and only World Cup in 2010, thanks to a late, late Andres Iniesta goal in the final to beat the Netherlands 1-0.
That aside, their best finish was fourth in 1950. Otherwise, La Roja are perennial World Cup underachievers, with four quarter-final exits, three round of 16 departures and have been eliminated at the group stage four times.
They have never reached the semi-finals or final without winning the whole thing, in other words, so a win today would be quite the statement for Luis de la Fuente’s men.
Last time out: Belgium
14:30 , Ronan Sullivan
Belgium’s last-16 victory over the USA was shrouded in controversy after Fifa’s decision to suspend the red card Folarin Balogun received in the previous round.
Their 4-1 win was an emphatic response to that decision, which President Trump admitted he lobbied Gianni Infantino over.
With Charles de Ketelaere’s double and Romelu Lukaku’s goal at the death, the Red Devils proved they are not dead and buried at the business end of touraments just yet.
Their best finish at a World Cup was third place in 2018, so they must beat Spain if they hope to match that.
Last time out: Spain
14:15 , Ronan Sullivan
Spain narrowly beat Portugal 1-0 thanks to Mikel Merino’s 91st minute winner.
After a tense and nervy affair, Luis de la Fuente’s side beat their Iberian rivals and advance to the quarter-finals, while also shattering Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of a World Cup triumph to match his great rival Lionel Messi’s 2022 win.
Lamine Yamal remains a vital player for La Roja, with his dynamism adding a much-needed spark to their attacking play.
After their Euro 2024 win, they could become just the third side to hold both the European Championships and World Cup simultaneously (after Spain 2012, France 2000 and West Germany 1974).
Prior to this tournament, they hadn’t won a World Cup knockout game since they won it in 2012.
Spain predicted XI
14:00 , Ronan Sullivan
Spain could be without Nico Williams once again, so Alex Baena may slot in on the left flank under Luis de la Fuente.
At right-back, Pedro Porro is the first choice with Marcos Llorente deputising, while Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte are his go-tos at centre-half. Former Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella completes the back four.
Pedri is alongside Rodri in the midfield double pivot, with Dani Olmo operating as the No10, Lamine Yamal off the right, and Baena on the left, supporting the false nine Mikel Oyarzabal.
Predicted Spain XI (4-2-3-1): Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal
Predicted Belgium XI
13:47 , Ronan Sullivan
Hans Vanaken replaced Amadou Onana against USA and is an option to be handed a start in central midfield. Another solution is to move captain Youri Tielemans back into a deeper role, allowing Kevin De Bruyne to return to the side after being dropped last time out.
While Garcia’s gamble in the last-16 clash of leaving out Jeremy Doku paid off, the Manchester City winger impressed in a cameo off the bench and could come in for Dodi Lukebakio which would see Leandro Trossard switch over to the right-hand side.
The Belgium boss appears to have settled largely on his back four in front of Thibaut Courtois, with Timothy Castagne and Maxim De Cuyper the preferred full-back options. Though, Brandon Mechele’s central defensive partner is not quite as clear with Arthur Theate battling Nathan Ngoy.
Up front, Charles De Ketelaere’s two goals against USA should give him the nod over Romelu Lukaku, who has made a massive impact in both knockout games so far.
Predicted Belgium XI: Courtois; Castagne, Mechele, Theate, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Raskin; Trossard, Tielemans, Doku;
Injured: Onana
Spain vs Belgium latest match odds
13:31 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain to progress: 2/7
Belgium to progress: 5/2
Odds via UK betting sites (subject to change).
Head to head (h2h) history and results
13:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain wins: 12
Belgium wins: 5
Draws: 5
Spain vs Belgium prediction
13:20 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Not many will have predicted Belgium to be here. Far from convincing in their opening two group games, trailing by two in the 85th minute against Senegal before taking on the host nation in the last 16.
However, facing Spain will be a step up and we think it will be a game too far for the Red Devils with the European champions improving with each match.
Spain to win, 2-0.
Early Belgium team news
13:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia has made big decisions throughout the tournament and in the last-16 win over the USA, he opted to leave both Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on the bench.
However, he will be forced into making at least one change after Amadou Onana was ruled after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
Belgium squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim de Cuyper, Koni de Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
Early Spain team news
13:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Spain could be without Nico Williams once again when they face Belgium in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday.
The European champions have been missing their star left winger since the 1-0 win over Uruguay, when the forward suffered an abductor injury.
It has kept him out of Spain’s last two knockout matches, where they beat Austria 3-0 and Portugal 1-0.
Spain squad
Goalkeepers: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Unai Simon
Defenders: Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella
Midfielders: Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Alex Baena, Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Pedri
Forwards: Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Victor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
How to watch
13:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 7.30pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer and the BBC website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action right here via Standard Sport’s live blog.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer / ITVX app and their websites.
Spain vs Belgium LIVE
13:00 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Spain vs Belgium!
It is all getting serious now as we have reached the quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Cup and the second of four ties is an all-European showdown in California.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from the Los Angeles Stadium. Stick with us!
