Spain-Belgium, all set at SoFi Stadium: here are the quarter-final line-ups
The countdown is on for one of the great ties of the 2026 World Cup. Spain and Belgium fight for a semi-final place at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium (kick-off 19:00 UTC). Luis de la Fuente goes with a 4-2-3-1, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo behind Oyarzabal and Rodri back in the pivot; Belgium reply with Courtois in goal and De Bruyne, Doku and Trossard in attack. The winner will meet France in the semi-finals.
All set in Los Angeles. Spain and Belgium take to the SoFi Stadium pitch for one of the four quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, with a semi-final place on the line. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:00 UTC —21:00 in mainland Spain— and the line-ups are now official.
Luis de la Fuente names a full-strength 4-2-3-1. Unai Simón continues in goal; a back four of Pedro Porro, the Pau Cubarsí-Aymeric Laporte centre-back pairing and Marc Cucurella on the left; a Rodri-Fabián Ruiz double pivot; and ahead of them the trio of Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Álex Baena behind the number nine, Mikel Oyarzabal. Spain arrive buoyant after winning the Iberian derby against Portugal (1-0) with a Merino goal in stoppage time.
Belgium, who swept the United States aside (1-4) in the round of 16 with a De Ketelaere double, answer with a mirror 4-2-3-1. Thibaut Courtois commands the goal; a back four of Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele and Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken and Nicolas Raskin in midfield; and the creativity of Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard in service of Charles De Ketelaere up front.
It is perhaps the quarter-final without any of the tournament's top scorers, but also the one pitting two of the bracket's most technically gifted sides against each other. The winner will face France in the semi-finals, already through after their 2-0 win over Morocco. Once the match is over we will publish the report here with the result and the goals.
Confirmed line-ups:
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal. Head coach: Luis de la Fuente.
Belgium (4-2-3-1): Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku; Charles De Ketelaere. Head coach: Rudi García.