​Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia insisted his side could match Spain’s knack for goal-scoring and pull off an upset to reach the World Cup semi-finals for only the third time in the country’s history. After a disappointing start to the tournament marked by draws with Iran and Egypt in the group stage, Belgium steadied their ship and defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16 to advance.
The build-up to the USA game had been rife with controversy, particularly surrounding Florian Balogun’s red card suspension after intervention from the US president. Yet Belgium dismissed the hosts in emphatic fashion. They had previously looked dead in the water against Senegal, trailing by two goals in the previous round before mounting a remarkable comeback that carried them into extra time and victory. Now they faced a stern test against a team that had yet to concede a goal at the 2026 World Cup.
Garcia has faced criticism for his tactical choices and squad selections, but Belgium’s performance against the United States—achieved without key players Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, or Romelu Lukaku in the starting lineup—has helped him win over some dissenters. The Frenchman has strengthened his position with Belgium’s run and remains convinced that his team can deliver a performance on par with Spain as they begin preparations for a match against one of the tournament’s favourites.
“We know we are up against one of the favourites. Spain are probably the best at ball possession and they have played in a recognizable way for 15 or 20 years,” he said. “But we have a great team. We are the second-highest scorers in the World Cup, and we are facing the team with the highest expected goals. We believe we can do this.”
Garcia’s confidence is clear, but it is essential to balance optimism with realism. Belgium are currently the third-highest scorers at this World Cup, with 13 goals, trailing only France (16) and Argentina (14). While some critics argue that France and Argentina have yet to be truly tested, Belgium has had to overcome significant adversity to reach this stage. They battled back from two goals down against Senegal and then exacted revenge on the United States in a stadium packed with cheering fans, underscoring that their progress is earned, not handed to them by luck or circumstance.
Garcia was quick to remind everyone that Belgium’s advancement is a merit-driven achievement and that underdog status will not unsettle his players. “We just beat the US in a stadium where everyone was against us,” he said. “It’s not the crowd that scores the goals. We will focus on what we can do. We have enough on our plate with Spain, who are a wonderful footballing team. Even if we are the underdogs, we will do everything we can to give them a run for their money.”
Spain, by contrast, are among the tournament’s favourites. They have not crumbled in the same way as some teams, though they have not overwhelmed opponents with the same consistency in attack. They remain a formidable opponent, and Belgium will need to sustain the level of play they demonstrated against the United States if they hope to progress further.