Spain and Belgium meet Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in a World Cup 2026 quarterfinal, with kickoff set for 9pm CET. Spain arrive having beaten Portugal in a hard-fought round of 16 match. Belgium got here by surviving a dramatic comeback against Senegal and then beating the United States in the round of 16.
According to a preview published by Barca Blaugranes, the central storyline heading into the match is not Spain's lineup but Belgium's problem with Kevin De Bruyne.
De Bruyne's tournament has been hampered by an injury-interrupted club season. When he has played, Belgium have struggled. They drew their first two group games against Iran and Egypt and found little rhythm in the final third with him on the pitch. When he has been off the pitch, the team has looked sharper, more compact, and more dangerous on the counter.
Both of Belgium's most convincing results came without De Bruyne in the game. The comeback win against Senegal, completed with a 125th-minute winner, happened with him off the pitch. So did the dominant round of 16 victory over the United States. Yet it is almost inconceivable that Belgium would leave him out of a World Cup quarterfinal. That leaves the team caught between two versions of themselves heading into one of the biggest matches of their tournament run.
Belgium are also without Zeno Debast and Amadou Onana, both ruled out. Thibaut Courtois starts in goal. Their expected lineup runs: Courtois; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere.
Spain have their own injury concerns. Yeremi Pino and Nico Williams are both out, and Víctor Muñoz is listed as a doubt. Lamine Yamal, whose fitness was a concern before the tournament began, recovered in time for Spain's opener and is expected to feature Friday. Spain are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1: Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Spain have been the more consistent side through the tournament. Barca Blaugranes predict a 2-1 win for La Roja, while acknowledging that Belgium are too talented to dismiss. The match will be officiated by Michael Oliver of England.
The winner advances to the World Cup semifinals, where France and Kylian Mbappé are waiting. That prospect has already drawn considerable anticipation across European football ahead of Friday's kickoff.
