Spain vs Belgium Quarter Final Matchup Preview

by Zak Drapeau

Sportz Nation - 7/10/2026

Last night we saw France beat Norway and become the first team to make the 2026 World Cup Sem-Finals. With one more game today and two more on Saturday, we are getting very close to seeing how the final act of this play plays out.

Photo Credits to Florencia Tan Jun via Getty Images

Spain v Belgium

Today's game is between Spain and Belgium at SoFi stadium in Los Angeles. The winner will be moving on to face France on Tuesday, July 14th for a spot in the World Cup Final.

Spain is slotted as a heavy favorite at -335. After their last match against Portugal which ended in a 91st minute goal to separate the 0-0 deadlock. Spain's defense was spectacular in the game but their attack was somewhat blank including their young phenom Lamine Yamal, who flashed at moments but never made that one critical run we were hoping for.

Lamine Yamal is Spain's 19-year old starting Left Winger who is among the very best players in the world at dribbling the ball and scoring as well. His last two seasons for Barcelona have both ended in the race for the Ballon d'Or, or the World's best Soccer player of the year.

Photo Credits to Jamie Squire via Getty images

Don't Count Belgium Out

Belgium on the other hand is coming off of a spectacular win over the United States by a score of 4-1. The game was set up by FIFA's shocking dismissal of USA's Folarin Balogun's 1 game ban before the match that sent Belgium into uproar. They handled it as good as possible and quite frankly played as good of a game as we've seen in the World Cup so far.

Belgium's attack is centered around their all-time leading goal scorer Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian striker has 4 points in his last 3 games including the goal that strated the epic comeback against Senegal. Other forwards such as Tielemans and DeKetelaere have both scored a brace in their first two knockout games as the country continues to be one of the highest powered attacks in the tournament.

Spain may be the favorites in this one but I actually think their 3-1 odds is disrespectful to the Belgians who have put together two very good games in the Knockout Stage so far. First they had a ridiculous comeback against from the 85th minute and then dominated the Americans in the next one which means they've outscored their opponents 7-1 in their last 122 minutes of game time.

Unfortunately for them is how good Spain's defense has been. I really don't believe they score more than 2 goals in their Quarter Final matchup so the real question is if Spain can get back to their scoring ways and that starts with Yamal.

Yamal Out of Form

Lamine Yamal hasn't been bad during this World Cup but he has been extraordinarily average. Yamal has scored only 1 goal in a throw away, 4-0 Group Stage win over Saudi Arabia. In his first 2 knockout stage games he has 6 shots on target and 3 crosses in 174 minutes. If Spain hopes to continue past Belgium and any farther, they'll need him to get back to his superstar ways.

For the time being, Spain has relied on their extremely well-balanced team to have playmakers emerge from everywhere. In the Portugal game, Mikel Merino may have been the man who scored the final goal after being subbed in for only 6 minutes but other forward Ferran Torres was the key contributor and was making runs and crosses that was slicing through Portugal's defense deep into the game. Against Austria, Mikel Oyarzabal scored a brace and their Left Back Cucurrella had a great game including 2 assists.

Spain is easily the 2nd deepest roster still left, (only behind France) and luckily for them have shown it. Even if Yamal doesn't break his scoring streak against Belgium, chances are other superstars will be made and could be seen from anywhere on their pitch.

Photo Credits to Alex Caparros via Getty Images

Prediction

I think this game is going to be on the crazier side including multiple goals and electric plays. I also think it comes right down to the wire and possibly even ends in penalties.

Spain's defense is very good but I think Belgium gets a goal around mid time and then scores an equalizer around the 90th minute. Spain should control possession for most of the game but will give up at least 1 counter attack to the Belgians.

Whether the game does go to penalties or ends in extra time or maybe doesn't even need it, I have Spain advancing. Belgium's offense is so explosive and they've proven they can come up huge at the end of the game but Spain is just a much better team and that will be shown by time of possession and in tackles and interventions on the defensive side.

Spain 3-2

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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

-Z.D.