The math is simple but brutal for Belgium. To reach a World Cup semifinal for the first time in eight years, they have to beat a Spain team that hasn’t allowed a goal in this entire tournament. Not one.
Spain rolled through Group H, handled Austria in the Round of 32, and needed late stoppage-time heroics from Mikel Merino to sink Portugal in the Round of 16. But the real story is that back line. Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte have been nearly impossible to crack, and Spain’s defense has been so steady that opponents barely get clean looks at goal.
Belgium’s path here has been the opposite of smooth. Two draws to open the group stage against Egypt and Iran. A 5-1 win over New Zealand that bailed them out. Then a Round of 32 game against Senegal where they trailed 2-0 and Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard were caught arguing on the field. Belgium stormed back anyway, won in extra time on a penalty, and followed it up with a 4-1 dismantling of host nation USA in Seattle.
Trossard leads the tournament in chances created with 17. He’s been the creative engine for a team that looks dangerous but inconsistent. And now they’re short a key piece: midfielder Amadou Onana tore his ACL after the USA game and is done for the World Cup.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia acknowledged the challenge. “Statistics are there to be broken,” he said. “They are the best when it comes to possession and they have not conceded a goal. But we will do what we can to score. If not, we will be sent packing.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente isn’t buying the favorite label. “Favouritism doesn’t guarantee anything,” he said. “There are no favorites. Tomorrow the game will be tough. We have to be our best to be victorious.”
Spain might get Nico Williams back from a groin injury. He trained ahead of the Portugal game but didn’t play. Yeremy Pino is dealing with a shoulder issue from the Uruguay match. Belgium has won nothing at this level since 2018, when they lost to eventual champion France in the semis. Spain last made the World Cup semifinals in 2010 and won the whole thing on Andres Iniesta’s goal in extra time.
The quarterfinal kicks off Friday in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. local time. Whoever wins gets France in the semifinals.
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