Our live coverage of the Spain-Belgium World Cup quarterfinal has ended. Scroll down below for more news and analysis from Friday afternoon’s match.
4 hr 58 min ago
5 hr 20 min ago
Before a ball was even kicked at this tournament, many people predicted this semifinal matchup when filling in their bracket.
5 hr 12 min ago
They’ve probably gone further than most neutrals would’ve predicted but the nature of this defeat will hurt Rudi Garcia’s side.
5 hr 30 min ago
And that’s it! What a thrilling end to this match as Spain grabs a late winner to beat Belgium, 2-
5 hr 27 min ago

Could that have been the moment for Belgium to get themselves back in this game?
5 hr 32 min ago
Moments and fine margins decide matches and Senne Lammens will be reflecting long and hard on his error that has potentially gifted Spain a semifinal spot.
5 hr 19 min ago
Is that the winner?! Surely it is.

Just when things were drifting towards extra-time, Senne Lammens drops a clanger in the Belgium goal and Mikel Merino taps in from close range to give Spain a 2-1 lead.

The Arsenal man has a knack for scoring late goals and he’s done so again here, capitalising on the chance presented to him when Lammens let Pau Cubarsi’s shot slip from his grip.

Potential heartbreak for Belgium.
5 hr 45 min ago
After the early burst of attacking intent in this second half, it’s back to how we were set in the early stages of this match with Belgium soaking up Spanish pressure.
5 hr 50 min ago
Spain looks great up until the ball gets close to Belgium’s box.

La Roja then lacks quality and intent, opting instead for little flicks around corners that result in turning over possession.

Belgium has defended well up to this point but will be getting tired under this sweltering heat. A little more care and Spain could find a winner here.

Winger Nico Williams is now on and the 23-year-old will fancy his chances with fresh legs. He’s been out injured for much of this tournament but he’s needed now by his team.
5 hr 54 min ago

When your luck is out, it’s out.

First captain Youri Tielemans, now talisman goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has had to leave the pitch with what looks to be a thigh injury.

The Belgian is visibly emotional as he walks off the field.

He’s replaced by his understudy Senne Lammens.

It’s a big loss for Belgium but Lammens has more than proved himself at Manchester United this past season.
6 hr ago
La Rojas and the Red Devils are back on the pitch for the final “quarter” of the second half.
6 hr 1 min ago

If there’s one Belgian player who knows about Spain’s attacking threat better than most it’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois, rated among the best keepers in world football, has previously played for Atletico Madrid before moving to cross-city rivals Real Madrid after a spell at Chelsea.

He’s been as sharp as ever today in making routine saves to keep out Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal.

The 34-year-old did go down clutching his left thigh just before the hydration break but is back up and moving. A sigh of relief I’m sure for all Belgium supporters!
6 hr 3 min ago
Thibaut Courtois has been brilliant in goal so far for Belgium because Spain is really ramping up the pressure.

Every time Lamine Yamal gets on the ball, there is a sense of expectation with the 18-year-old getting the better of his defender at almost every opprtunity since the break.

He keeps cutting in and threatening to unleash that lethal left-footed shot but he just hasn’t been able to pull the trigger yet.

You sense it’s getting closer, though.
6 hr 4 min ago
There’s the second hydration break and the “third quarter” has come to a close.

Somewhat concerningly for Spain fans in this second half, Belgium grew into the match, albeit slowly. The Red Devils are beginning to find a few more chances and are playing a bit more open than they were in the first half.

You have to wonder if Belgium boss Rudi Garcia reminded them, “We need to score more goals to win,” or if he said that Spain will eventually win if the Belgians just sit back and don’t try to have more initiative.

Still though, Belgium is allowing Spain more of the ball and letting it make the first move, relying on reactions on the counter to get something going. It’s working as La Roja’s finishing in the final third is as sloppy as it was in the first half. Sensing the need for some change, Luis de la Fuente put Pedri and Ferrán Torres onto the pitch. The Barça duo might have a bit more luck combining with the front line, especially with Pedri’s creativity.

The nerves are well and truly back for me, so let’s hope for a Spain goal (or two) to alleviate my pain.
6 hr 9 min ago

Beglium is growing in confidence and so too is Jérémy Doku.

He’s proving to be a real handful for Spain’s defense, in particular right back Pedro Porro who is well and truly being given the runaround.

Not only is the Belgian winger linking up well with his left back, he’s carrying the ball, committing Spanish defenders and midfielders and allowing Belgium to get up the pitch.

If Spain doesn’t shut down this fast it could be punished.
6 hr 10 min ago

It’s hard to think of a player who has had a bigger impact off the substitute’s bench this tournament than Belgium’s record goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku.

Four appearances off the bench, four different games, four game-changing moments.

In Belgium’s opening group game against Egypt, the team was trailing 1-0 and looked bereft of ideas until the introduction of Lukaku forced an equalizing own goal.

He then had another instant impact against New Zealand, scoring a goal shortly after coming on to put Belgium top of the group.

History repeated itself when the Red Devils faced Senegal in the Round of 32 with the 33-year-old scoring the goal that prompted a remarkable turnaround as Belgium recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2.

And then against the United States in the last 16, his sublime strike topped off a comprehensive 4-1 victory.

With his goal tally currently at three, he’s also become the first Belgian player to score on three occasions at multiple World Cups – the other time in 2018 as Belgium finished the tournament in third place.

He’s just come on now.
6 hr 14 min ago

Belgium’s equalizer at the end of that first half would have shaken Spain a bit but it came out after the break with a fresh sense of impetus, flooding forward at every opportunity.

Lamine Yamal is working himself into some good positions but is yet to find enough space to take a proper effort on goal. Dani Olmo also had a shot on goal but saw his effort fly high and wide.

Feels very similar to the start of the first 45 minutes so far.

Pedri and Ferran Torres have both just been introduced as Spain looks for some more quality in the final third.
6 hr 19 min ago
If there’s one thing Rudi Garcia would’ve noted in that first half, it’s Belgium’s ability to expose Spain’s high line.

There were a few opportunities towards the end of the half when the team’s main attacking threats in De Ketelaere and Doku were left one-on-one against Spain’s backline.

Only a sloppy pass or interception prevented them from breaking through, so Spain’s defense will have to be on high alert in this second half.

Let’s not forget, Belgium, with 14 goals, is the joint second-highest scorers alongside Argentina and only behind France (16).
6 hr 24 min ago
Halftime is over as Spain and Belgium retake the field for the final half of play with a trip to the semifinal on the line. The score is all tied up at 1-1 after Belgium’s thrilling equalizer.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/10/sport/live-news/spain-belgium-world-cup-score