Spain and Belgium have confirmed their starting teams for their quarter-final at the World Cup 2026 in Los Angeles on Friday.
The reigning European champions and 2010 World Cup winners are yet to concede and beat Portugal in the last 16 courtesy of Mikel Merino’s 91st-minute winner.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice as Belgium, who finished third in 2018, knocked out co-hosts the USA 4-1
The winners will meet France in the semi-finals in Dallas on Tuesday (20:00 BST).
For every Belgian. 🇧🇪 #ESPBEL pic.twitter.com/0eayTIfFxO
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 10, 2026
World Cup 2026: Spain confirmed team vs Belgium
Spain make a change in midfield, where Fabian Ruiz replaces Pedri.
Nico Williams is on the bench following an adductor injury that has kept him out for two matches, as is fellow winger Yeremy Pino despite a fractured collarbone.
Spain starting XI: Unai Simon, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal
Spain substitutes: David Raya, Joan Garcia, Marc Pubill, Alex Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Gavi, Martín Zubimendi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Nico Williams, Víctor Munoz, Borja Iglesias
World Cup 2026: Belgium full line up vs Spain
Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku come in as Belgium make two changes.
Midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury against the USA and Dodi Lukebakio moves to the bench.
Defender Zeno Debast has a leg injury.
Belgium starting XI: Thibaut Courtois, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy 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
Where to watch Spain vs Belgium: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Friday is at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on BBC One.
Streaming on a vast range of devices is available through the BBC iPlayer app and BBC Sport website.
World Cup 2026: Spain vs Belgium stats
- These teams last men when David Silva goals gave Spain a 2-0 friendly victory over Belgium in Brussels in September 2016
- Spain are unbeaten in the last 11 meetings since a 2-1 defeat at EURO 1980 (W9 D2) and have won the five most recent by an aggregate of 13-1
- This will be the third World Cup edition of this fixture and the second at the quarter-final stage. Belgium progressed from the last eight on penalties in 1986 after a 1-1 draw, with Spain winning 2-1 in the 1990 group stage
- La Roja kept a World Cup-record sixth consecutive clean sheet during that win against Portugal
- Under Luis de la Fuente, Spain have progressed from all six of their major-tournament knockout games
- Only two managers have ever progressed from their first seven such ties with European nations: Vittorio Pozzo (first 8 with Italy, 1934-1938) and Vicente del Bosque (first 7 with Spain, 2010-2012)
- This is Spain’s sixth World Cup quarter-final; they were eliminated from their first four, between 1934 and 2002, but beat Paraguay 1-0 in the 2010 quarter-finals, winning that tournament
- With an assist against the USA, Leandro Trossard (2 goals, 2 assists) became the third Belgian on record (since 1966) to score multiple goals and provide multiple assists at a single World Cup (Eden Hazard in 2018, Jan Ceulemans in 1986)
- At these finals, Romelu Lukaku became the second Belgian (after Marc Wilmots in 2002) to score in three consecutive World Cup fixtures
- All three of Lukaku’s goals at this tournament have come as a substitute, with only Cameroon’s Roger Milla (4, in 1990) ever netting more from the bench at a single World Cup edition
