Spain vs Belgium: World Cup quarter-final preview, predictions & bet builder tips

• Fixture: Spain vs Belgium

• Competition: World Cup - Quarter-Finals

• Date: Friday, July 10, 2026

• Kick-off: 8pm BST

• Venue: Los Angeles Stadium

• How to watch: BBC One, BBC iPlayer

Our prediction: Spain 2-1 Belgium

Spain

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Simon / Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella / Rodri, Pedri / Yamal, Olmo, Baena / Oyarzabal

Belgium

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois / Castagne, Mechele, Ngoy, De Cuyper / Tielemans, Vanaken / Doku, De Bruyne, Trossard / De Ketelaere

Spain have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, when of course, they went on to lift the trophy. La Roja are the only team yet to concede a goal all tournament, after breezing through Group H and comfortably seeing off Austria 3-0 in the last 32, before beating neighbours Portugal 1-0 via a last-minute Mikel Merino winner. Spain are currently joint-second favourites to win the World Cup.

Belgium put in their best performance of the tournament to beat co-hosts USA 4-1 in Seattle in the last 16, apparently inspired by the controversial decision to allow US striker Folarin Balogun to play despite a suspension. Several members of the Belgian team have said that galvanised them, but some bold selection decisions from manager Rudi Garcia also paid off, notably dropping Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku to the bench.

The Red Devils actually knocked out Spain at this stage of the 1986 World Cup, but that was one of only two victories for Belgium in the last eleven meetings between the two. Luis De La Fuente has yet to lose a knockout match at a major tournament in charge of Spain, and they look like far the more complete side. Belgium's golden generation could put up one last rallying cry, but we think Spain will have enough to edge it in 90 minutes.

Although Spain are yet to concede in their five games at this World Cup, we're predicting that streak will end here as they beat Belgium 2-1. Belgium have scored in eleven of their last twelve games, and have found the back of the net 12 times in their last three matches. Romelu Lukaku has scored off the bench in three straight games, while the likes of De Bruyne, Doku and Leandro Trossard provide quality and experience in bundles. We're predicting both teams to score as part of our Spain vs Belgium bet builder.

Lamine Yamal was carrying an injury coming into the World Cup and hasn't quite looked himself, with only one goal so far at a tournament where the stars have really shone. He is starting to have more and more influence in general play though with his mazy dribbles, and we think with the stakes starting to rise, the 18-year-old could come to the party in the quarter-finals. Yamal is averaging 2.29 shots on target per game at the World Cup, so we're tipping him to have two or more shots on target against Belgium.

Lukaku has been used as an impact sub to great effect so far by Rudi Garcia, but it was starting striker Charles De Ketelaere who won the game against the USA with a first-half brace. Those were the first goals of the tournament for the Atalanta forward, but he provides a lot with his link play and ability to hold the ball up. De Ketelaere is averaging 1.37 shots on target per game, and we're backing him to continue where he left off in the last match by having at least one shot on target in the quarter-final.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.