It cannot be denied that the Spain National Team has become one of the most consistent in the 2026 World Cup. It is only natural then that they are now being touted as one of the strong candidates to win the world title in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, La Furia Roja’s step to make that happen will not be easy. They must first overcome the resistance of Belgium in the quarterfinal round at Los Angeles Stadium, California, United States, Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 2:00 WIB.
Ahead of the match, Spain is indeed slightly favored over their opponent. This is reasonable considering their journey in this World Cup. The team managed by coach Luis de la Fuente is undefeated in five matches with a tally of seven goals. Even greater, La Furia Roja’s goal guarded by Unai Simon has not conceded a single goal yet. This proves that their defense has become one of the best in this tournament.
Not only that, Spain also possesses a capable squad depth. The quality of the core players and the substitute players is considered equal, making it easier for La Fuente to craft strategies on the pitch. This was evident when Spain defeated Portugal in the Round of 16.
He assessed that the success of the substitute players was not a coincidence. According to him, Spain has very good squad depth so that whoever comes on is able to provide a positive impact. “The influence of the players from the bench is truly extraordinary. That is because we have 26 players with very high quality,” he said.
Spain might not display an attractive attacking game like France, but they play a highly calculated football that relies on ball possession. In the upcoming match, Spain will still rely on Lamine Yamal, a player with extraordinary talent. Statistically, he is the most dangerous forward in this team. However, his performance has indeed not been at its maximum following an injury and he has only scored one goal in five matches.
Mikel Oyarzabal managed to cover for that shortcoming by scoring four goals, including two goals in a resounding 3-0 victory over Austria in the Round of 32. However, the reality is that Spain does not need to score many goals to achieve victory. So far, their goal has only faced six shots on target in the five matches they have played.
Golden Generation
Meanwhile, Belgium, led by impressive captain Youri Tielemans, has undergone a journey full of ups and downs in the knockout stage so far. However, they showed their quality when making an epic comeback to defeat Senegal 3-2.
Their mentality was also tested when eliminating the United States in the Round of 16, thanks to two goals from Charles De Ketelaere in the first half. This World Cup is likely to be the last run for the remnants of the players dubbed the country’s “Golden Generation,” including creative midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and forward Romelu Lukaku.
Both players did not appear as starters during the 4-1 win over the United States. Lukaku came on as a substitute and scored a goal. This shows they remain a dangerous threat. In addition, Thibaut Courtois from Real Madrid is one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.
The three goals scored by Lukaku in this tournament make him now collect a total of eight World Cup goals, matching the records of Diego Maradona, Rudi Voller, and Rivaldo. Head coach Rudi Garcia has many choices of quality players in other positions, with the presence of Manchester City winger, Jeremy Doku, as well as Leandro Trossard from Arsenal who provide a goal threat for his team.
The match against Spain in Los Angeles is Belgium’s third appearance in the quarterfinals within four editions of the World Cup. However, they have never once reached the final match.
This marks the first meeting between Spain and Belgium in the knockout stage of the World Cup. The match is expected to be tight. If Spain is able to control ball possession and limit the movement of Belgium’s players, La Roja’s chances to qualify will be greater. On the contrary, Belgium will certainly be very dangerous because they have the ability to utilize counterattacks and set pieces.
