As it is now, Spain will play Belgium in the quarterfinals on Friday as Belgium beat the US 4-1 in the round of 16 of the FIFA world tournament on Monday night.
The first half gave US hope as Malik Tillman equalized a 9th-minute goal from C.D. Ketelaere,deflecting a shot from a Belgian player who was jumping as part of a wall on 31 minutes.
The Americans kept showing some game standards, until Charles. D. Ketelaere scored with a header on a cross into the box just two minutes after their goal made the first period end 2-1 in favor of Belgium.
In the second half, things only got worse for the Americans. In the 57th minute, Freeze made a critical error. He came way out of the goal to play a ball, only to lose possession and allow Belgium’s Hans Vanaken to score. Shortly after, the Americans’ leader, Christian Pulisic, was subbed out of the game with an apparent injury.
In stoppage time, 90+3, Romulus Lukaku tacked on the final goal to seal the Americans’ fate.
The game finally ended 4-1 in favor of Belgium 🇧🇪.
Who will win Friday’s game ?
Let’s look into their past encounters.
In normal games played, both have been able to meet seven times, although none of them are the FIFA World Cup but qualifiers and international games where Spain won six and drew one in all encounters with Belgium. I can judge the results on Friday. No one can really say, because the recent form of both countries is commendable which show below
Belgium form
3–2 vs Senegal (H)
1 Jul 2026
FIFA World Cup Round of 32
5–1 vs New Zealand (A)
27 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group G
0–0 vs Iran (H)
21 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group G 1–1 vs Egypt (H)
15 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group G
5–0 vs Tunisia (H)
6 Jun 2026
International Match
2 – 0vs Croatia (A)
2 Jun 2026
International Match
Spain form
3–0 vs Austria (H)
2 Jul 2026
FIFA World Cup Round of 32
1–0 vs Uruguay (A)
27 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group H
4–0 vs Saudi Arabia (H)
21 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group H
0–0 vs Cape Verde (H)
15 Jun 2026
FIFA World Cup Group H
3–1 vs Peru (A)
9 Jun 2026
International Match
1–1 vs Iraq (H)
4 Jun 2026
Belgium have played 15 FIFA World Cups and the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 which their best finish in the World Cup is third at the 2018 tournament in Russia and fourth in the 1986 edition in Mexico.
Spain had 17 appearances in the FIFA World Cup out of the 23 editions of the tournaments. They only won it once, which was in the year 2010, and their best World Cup result was a fourth-place finish in 1950.