+ Spain–Belgium, Friday at 9:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California
SVT/P4 Radio Sport
+ “Super Zeros” Spain
Spain enter the quarter-finals as one of the tournament's most convincing teams. After winning Euro 2024, coach Luis de la Fuente has continued to develop a team that combines possession with a much more direct and effective attacking game than previous Spanish sides.
The team is also on a long run of strong defensive play. In five matches so far at the World Cup, it has not conceded a goal. In qualifying, it also kept clean sheets in five of six matches.
Offensively, Lamine Yamal is the team's big X-factor, but it is Mikel Oyarzabal who scores the goals. The Real Sociedad striker has four goals so far in the tournament and has developed into a key player.
+ The road to the quarter-finals
Spain advanced from the round of 16 by defeating Portugal 1–0 after a controlled effort, with the decisive goal coming late. Before that, they beat Austria 3–0 in the round of 16. In the group stage, they played out a 0–0 draw in the opening match against Cape Verde. They then defeated Saudi Arabia 4–0 and Uruguay 1–0.
+ Victory in perhaps the most talked about match of the World Cup
The headlines surrounding Belgium have been about much more than football. Ahead of their round of 16 tie against the United States, the team was embroiled in one of the most controversial incidents in World Cup history, when US star striker Folarin Balogun was suddenly cleared to play after the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) lifted his ban. The decision came after US President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked for a review of the red card.
The Belgian Football Association reacted with great anger. The association described the decision as “astonishing” and questioned how FIFA could change a disciplinary decision just hours before kick-off. Belgium considered various legal measures, but FIFA rejected the protests and allowed Balogun to play.
Despite all the chaos, Belgium let the game speak for itself. The team ran over the USA 4-1 and once again showed impressive attacking power. Atalanta star Charles De Ketelaere has gained confidence at the top of the Belgian attack and responded by scoring two goals against the USA.
+ The road to the quarter-finals
Belgium started the World Cup tentatively with two draws against Egypt and Iran. Since then, the attack has really kicked into gear with a 5-1 win over New Zealand followed by a 3-2 win and a dramatic late comeback in the round of 16 against Senegal, and a 4-1 win over the USA. The Belgians have scored 13 goals so far in the World Cup, with only France and Argentina having bettered that with 14.
