​Spain meet Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday night, both teams sitting two wins away from reaching the World Cup final. La Roja have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, though questions linger about their cutting edge in front of goal after a late winner from Mikel Merino helped them sneak past Portugal in the Round of 16. Belgium, by contrast, appear to be hitting their best form at the right moment, having executed their game plan to perfection to oust the USA in Seattle after a less convincing group phase.
Here is everything you need to know about the big clash. Spain vs Belgium is scheduled to kick off at 8pm BST on Friday 10 July in Los Angeles. In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on BBC1, with coverage starting at 7:30pm BST. A live stream will be available via BBC iPlayer. The winner will face France, who advanced by beating Morocco, in the semi-finals.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to name largely the same side that only just scraped past Portugal. Nico Williams continues to struggle with a muscle issue after being on the end of a rough tackle against Uruguay in the group stage, while Yeremy Pino remains out after a heavy collision in the same match. Expected Spain XI: Simon; Porro, Cubarais, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
On the Belgium side, Amadou Onana’s season-ending ACL injury against the USA means the Aston Villa midfielder will miss the remainder of the year. There is a chance that Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne could return to the starting lineup. Belgium’s likely XI: Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Raskin, Tielemans; Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard; De Ketelaere.
For Spain, the focus will be on whether their defense can continue to remain stout while their attack finds the necessary clinical edge to break down a robust Belgian back line. Spain have showcased discipline and industry at the back, with a unit that has yet to concede a goal throughout the tournament, but the real test comes against a Belgium side capable of executing a well-drilled game plan and counterattacking with speed and precision.
Belgium’s path to success hinges on maximizing moments of quality from their creative trio and ensuring a compact, organized defense. With De Bruyne thriving in midfield and Doku providing pace and directness on the wing, Belgium can threaten Spain’s defense through quick transitions and set pieces. The match is shaping up as a tactical duel between Spain’s orderly build-up and Belgium’s dynamic, breakaway potential.
As the narrative unfolds, both teams know a place in the World Cup final awaits, fueling what promises to be a high-stakes, compelling encounter in Los Angeles. Fans can expect a technically rich strategic battle, with Spain aiming to maintain their defensive record while Belgium seeks to convert chances into a decisive performance that could propel them toward a first-ever World Cup final berth.