​Belgium faced a significant setback just before their World Cup quarterfinal against Spain on Friday, July 11, when captain and midfield anchor Youri Tielemans sustained an injury during warm-ups and was unable to take the field. Hans Vanaken stepped in to replace him in the starting lineup. Tielemans, 29, had started all five of Belgium’s matches in the tournament prior to the quarterfinal in Inglewood, California. The Aston Villa midfielder had been a key to Belgium’s attacking and possessive play, including a standout performance against Senegal in the round of 32, where he scored twice to help secure a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory for the Red Devils.
In the absence of Tielemans, Belgium turned to Hans Vanaken, 33, who had also featured prominently for Belgium throughout the World Cup, starting four consecutive matches after his late inclusion against Spain. Vanaken delivered a strong contribution for Belgium, recording a goal and an assist as the team defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16. The Club Brugge midfielder’ s performances across the tournament helped Belgium navigate the early rounds with momentum, even as the squad faced the pressure of a knockout-stage showdown.
The 2026 World Cup marks an unprecedented event in the sport, with the largest edition of the tournament to date. USA TODAY has committed extensive coverage with reporters on the ground in all 16 host cities across three countries, following 48 teams as they compete for the trophy. For up-to-the-minute updates, readers can subscribe to the World Cup: Extra Time newsletter, and join the WhatsApp channel to receive the latest information directly to their texts. In the United States, all matches are broadcast on Fox and FS1, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo throughout the tournament, and streaming options via Peacock.
The World Cup format features a single-elimination knockout stage once the group phase concludes. The 32 remaining teams are organized into a bracket, and the field is halved with each successive round until a champion is crowned. The only exception to this is a third-place playoff, which will be contested by the two semifinal losers prior to the final.
Here’s a snapshot of the knockout-stage schedule as the tournament progressed: on July 4, France defeated Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; July 6, Spain defeated Portugal in Arlington; July 6, Belgium defeated the United States in Seattle; July 9, France versus Morocco at Foxborough; July 10, Spain versus Belgium in Inglewood; July 11, Norway versus England in Miami; July 11, Argentina versus Switzerland in Kansas City; July 14, the winners from Foxborough and Inglewood facing off in Arlington; July 15, the Miami and Kansas City winners meeting in Atlanta; and July 19, the final match scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This article originated with USA TODAY and centers on Belgium captain Youri Tielemans’ injury during warm-ups ahead of the World Cup quarterfinal clash with Spain, and the impact of his absence on Belgium’s tactical approach as they prepared for a high-stakes knockout contest.