Spain vs Belgium: Predictions and Insights for 2026 World Cup Quarterfinal

On Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Spain will take on Belgium in what promises to be a gripping all-European clash during the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals. Spain entered the tournament as one of the favorites, maintaining a flawless defensive record by not conceding a single goal across five matches. Their journey included a dramatic late win against Portugal, secured by substitute Mikel Merino in the 90th minute.

Belgium, meanwhile, bounced back from a tough group stage exit in 2022 to reach the quarterfinals this time after defeating the United States in Seattle. The Belgians have a history of strong World Cup performances, including a third-place finish in 2018, though their last meeting with Spain was a friendly in 2016 that ended in a Spanish victory. Belgium's path here included a thrilling extra-time win over Senegal in the round of 32.

Expert Predictions for Spain vs Belgium

• Seth Vertelney: Spain 2-0 Belgium - He views Belgium’s inconsistency as a hurdle too high against Spain’s well-organized squad.
• Jon Arnold: Spain 1-0 Belgium - Notes Spain's ability to edge out tight games and believes Belgium’s attack hasn’t fully found its rhythm yet.
• Jesse Yomtov: Spain 2-0 Belgium - Thinks Spain’s talent and defensive strength will prevail again despite a tough match.
• Victoria Hernandez: Spain 2-1 Belgium - Feels Spain is starting to show why they were considered favorites, while Belgium’s flair won’t suffice this time.

Match Details

Date: Friday, July 10Time: 3:00 PM ETVenue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CaliforniaTV: FoxStreaming: FOX One AppSpanish Broadcast: Telemundo, Peacock

Context of the Tournament

The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, featuring 48 teams competing across three countries. The USA TODAY team is covering every host city intensively, bringing updates on all matches. Both teams have shown resilience to reach this stage, but Spain’s disciplined defense versus Belgium’s fight will define this contest.