Today Spain and Belgium face off in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The match kicks off at 8pm BST / 3pm ET, promising a thrilling encounter between two in-form sides. Spain arrives unbeaten with a record defense, while Belgium powered past USA 4-1 in the round of 16.
Spain's defense sets a world record
La Roja has not conceded a single goal in the tournament, keeping a sixth consecutive clean sheet in the 1-0 win over Portugal. This sets a new World Cup record. Manager Luis de la Fuente relies on a backline featuring Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi, with Rodri controlling midfield. Teenage star Lamine Yamal has scored only once but creates many chances. Mikel Merino pushes for a start after his last-gasp winner against Portugal, and Nico Williams may be closer to full fitness after a groin issue.
Belgium's firepower led by Lukaku and De Bruyne
Belgium showed resilience by beating Senegal 3-2 and then thrashing co-hosts USA 4-1. Romelu Lukaku has three goals so far, all from the bench. Charles De Ketelaere finally got off the mark this summer. However, the team misses midfielder Amadou Onana due to an ACL injury. Kevin de Bruyne orchestrates the attack alongside Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard. Manager Rudi Garcia will rely on experience and pace to break down Spain's defense.
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How to watch Spain vs Belgium for free worldwide
The quarterfinal is available free-to-air in many countries. In the UK, BBC One and BBC iPlayer broadcast the match. In Australia, SBS On Demand streams it for free. In Brazil, CazéTV YouTube channel shows the game without account. Other broadcasters include RTVE in Spain, RTBF and VRT in Belgium, NOS in Netherlands, M6 in France, ZDF in Germany, and RAI in Italy. For travelers, a VPN like Norton VPN helps access your usual streaming service from anywhere. The Spanish national team boasts a rich history, while Belgium aims to match its 2018 semi-final run.
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For more on how extreme heat affected another quarterfinal, check our article on record heat in Miami.
Tactical battle: Spain's defense vs Belgium's attack
Spain is expected to field a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal, a back four of Pedro Porro, Laporte, Cubarsi and Cucurella; midfield trio Rodri, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz; and forwards Yamal, Oyarzabal and Williams. Belgium counters with a 4-2-3-1: Courtois, Castagne, Debast, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, De Bruyne; Doku, De Ketelaere, Trossard; Lukaku. The match will test whether Spain's impenetrable defense can withstand Belgium's dynamic counterattacks. Expect a close contest with moments of individual brilliance.
Source: https://www.techradar.com/how-to-watch/football/spain-vs-belgium-world-cup-2026-free
