​INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Unai Simón’s seemingly unbreakable wall finally gave way at the World Cup as Belgium toppled the Spaniards in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Spain goalkeeper had carried a record-setting clean sheet for 650 minutes, the longest stretch without a goal in this tournament, before Timothy Castagne’s cross found Charles De Ketelaere’s head in the 41st minute to level the match at 1-1. De Ketelaere outjumped Pau Cubarsi to direct the ball home, sending a jolt through Spain’s hopes of extending their shutout string.
Belgium’s goal marked a historic moment as they became the first side to breach La Roja’s defense at this World Cup, ending Spain’s impressive streak of six consecutive clean sheets. Spain began their tournament with a goalless run that began in the round of 16 at the previous World Cup in 2022, when Morocco advanced after a penalty shootout. This year, Spain opened group play with a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, followed by four straight shutouts that propelled them into the knockout rounds and ultimately to the quarterfinal showdown with Belgium.
Simón had already stretched his own record beyond the previous benchmark of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes during a 3-0 knockout-round victory over Austria, which set a new mark earlier in the campaign. The prior record for consecutive clean sheets—five in a row—had been held by Italy’s Walter Zenga at the 1990 World Cup on home soil.
This streak’s origins trace back to Qatar in 2022, when Simón entered the tournament amid a 2-1 group-stage defeat to Japan. Since then, the 29-year-old goalkeeper had faced minimal danger in the opening half on Friday, with Belgium managing only two shots on target before halftime as his streak rode on the line.
The match’s momentum shifted with De Ketelaere’s equalizer, but the narrative remained one of Simón’s incredible durability and his ability to organize Spain’s defense under pressure. His performance, marked by composure and anticipation, underscored why he had been trusted to protect one of the most daunting clean-sheet streaks in recent World Cup history.
Spain will look to rebuild after learning how a high-altitude run of perfection can be punctured in the biggest stage of all. The tactical discipline that had underpinned their defense for most of the tournament underscored a broader strategic question: whether Spain can sustain their defensive mastery while continuing to create the chances needed to close out matches when pressure finally arrives.
As the World Cup’s knockout rounds progressed, Simón’s early-season form had already become a talking point for analysts and fans alike. His ability to read plays, position himself optimally, and respond quickly to the ball’s trajectory had allowed Spain to frustrate some of the world’s most potent attacks. Yet in the end, Belgium’s persistence and timely set-piece execution proved to be the catalyst for ending one of the tournament’s most remarkable goaltending runs.
Looking ahead, both teams must reassess as they move toward the next phases of the competition. Spain will need to absorb the disappointment of their first-ever World Cup exit in this stage while evaluating how to restore a state of invulnerability in the back line without compromising their attacking rhythm. Belgium, buoyed by the breakthrough, will aim to turn this momentum into further results, hoping to maybe tilt the balance in their favor as they chase a deeper run in the tournament.
This match, rich with tactical nuance and a testament to goalkeeping excellence, left fans with a reminder of the unpredictable excitement that defines the World Cup. The moment De Ketelaere converted the cross to tie the score will be remembered as a turning point in an encounter that tested resilience on both sides, and Simón’s 650-minute streak will stand as a remarkable chapter in World Cup lore.