Spain vs. Belgium projected lineups, starting 11 for World Cup quarterfinals game in Los Angeles

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Spain and Belgium meet in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, July 10th, with a place in the semifinals at stake.

Luis de la Fuente's side has continued to impress with disciplined displays in the knockout stage. They beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 thanks to a very late goal from Mikel Merino.

Belgium, meanwhile, arrives full of confidence after a commanding victory over the United States. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 victory.

Who will start for Spain? Will Belgium make any changes after its convincing Round of 16 win? The Sporting News looks at the latest projected lineups and team news ahead of Friday's showdown.

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Spain projected starting 11

(4-3-3, right to left): 23. U. Simon — 12. P. Porro, 22. P. Cubarsi, 14. A. Laporte, 24. M. Cucurella — 16. Rodri, 20. Pedri — 19. L. Yamal, 10. D. Olmo, 15. A. Baena — 21. M. Oyarzabal

  • Injured: 17. N. Williams (adductor, doubt)
  • Suspended: None
  • On a yellow card: 7. F. Torres

Luis de la Fuente is expected to name an unchanged side after Merino's dramatic winner against Portugal secured Spain's place in the quarterfinals.

Unai Simon should continue in goal behind Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella, with the back four having helped Spain keep a World Cup-record five consecutive clean sheets. Porro appears to be ahead of Marcos Llorente in the right-back pecking order.

Rodri and Pedri are expected to retain their places in midfield, while Lamine Yamal and Alex Baena provide the width either side of Dani Olmo behind Mikel OyarzabalNico Williams is still struggling with an adductor problem and is set to be on the bench again.

Merino is available from the bench once again after his match-winning impact against Portugal.

Belgium projected starting 11

(4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. T. Courtois (GK) — 21. T. Castagne, 4. B. Mechele, 3. A. Theate, 5. M. De Cuyper — 20. H. Vanaken, 23. N. Raskin — 14. D. Lukebakio, 8. Y. Tielemans, 11. J. Doku — 17. C. De Ketelaere

  • Injured: 24. A. Onana (knee), 10. L. Trossard (muscle, doubt)
  • Suspended: None
  • On a yellow card: 4. B. Mechele

Rudi Garcia has one major selection concern ahead of Friday's quarterfinal, with Leandro Trossard facing a race against time to recover after picking up what appeared to be a muscle injury against the United States. Amadou Onana has already been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament with a knee injury.

Thibaut Courtois should continue behind Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate and Maxim De CuyperHans Vanaken will likely replace the injured Onana.

Charles De Ketelaere is expected to lead the attack, with Dodi Lukebakio providing support from the right and Jeremy Doku on the left if Trossard is sidelined. Youri Tielemans' creative midfield role has negated the need to restore Kevin De Bruyne to the XI.

Romelu Lukaku is expected to start on the bench once again, giving Belgium a proven attacking option if Garcia needs to change the game in the second half.

Spain vs. Belgium predictions, betting odds

Belgium produced one of the standout performances of the Round of 16 and have enough attacking quality to trouble any defence left in the tournament. However, Spain have consistently found a way through difficult knockout ties and boast the midfield control needed to limit Belgium's biggest threats. Expect the Red Devils to make this competitive, but Spain should have just enough to book their place in the semifinals.

  • Score prediction: Spain 2-1 Belgium

Spain vs. Belgium World Cup rosters

Here are the Spain and Belgium squads for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as confirmed by FIFA before the tournament.

Spain World Cup Squad

MORE: A complete breakdown of Spain's 2026 World Cup squad

Head coach: Luis de la Fuente

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK23Unai SimonAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2857
GK1David RayaArsenal (Premier League, England)3012
GK13Joan GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)251
DEF24Marc CucurellaChelsea (Premier League, England)2723
DEF3Alejandro GrimaldoBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)3012
DEF22Pau CubarsiBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)1911
DEF14Aymeric LaporteAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)3144
DEF4Eric GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2519
DEF2Marc PubillAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)220
DEF5Marcos LlorenteAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)3123
DEF12Pedro PorroTottenham (La Liga, Spain)2616
MID20PedriBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2340
MID8Fabian RuizParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, Spain)3041
MID18Martin ZubimendiArsenal (Premier League, England)2725
MID9GaviBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2128
MID16RodriManchester City (Premier League, England)2961
MID15Alex BaenaAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2415
FWD21Mikel OyazarbalReal Sociedad (La Liga, Spain)2952
FWD10Dani OlmoBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2848
FWD17Nico WilliamsAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2330
FWD11Yeremy PinoCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)2321
FWD7Ferran TorresBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2655
FWD26Borja IglesiasCelta Vigo (La Liga, Spain)336
FWD25Victor MunozOsasuna (La Liga, Spain)222
FWD19Lamine YamalBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)1825

Belgium World Cup squad

Head coach: Rudi Garcia

PositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCaps
GK1Thibaut CourtoisReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)34107
GK12Senne LammensManchester United (Premier League, England)232
GK13Mike PendersChelsea (Premier League, England)200
DEF21Timothy CastagneFulham (Premier League, England)3062
DEF2Zeno DebastSporting CP (Primeira Liga, Portugal)2226
DEF5Maxim De CuyperBrighton (Premier League, England)2517
DEF16Koni De WinterAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)237
DEF4Brandon MecheleClub Brugge (Pro League, Belgium)337
DEF15Thomas MeunierLille (Ligue 1, France)3478
DEF25Nathan NgoyLille (Ligue 1, France)222
DEF18Joaquin SeysClub Brugge (Pro League, Belgium)214
DEF3Arthur TheateEintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, Germany)2532
MID7Kevin De BruyneNapoli (Serie A, Italy)34117
MID24Amadou OnanaAston Villa (Premier League, England)2427
MID23Nicolas RaskinRangers (Premiership, Scotland)2511
MID8Youri TielemansAston Villa (Premier League, England)2983
MID20Hans VanakenClub Brugge (Pro League, Belgium)3332
MID6Axel WitselGirona (Segunda Division, Spain)37136
FWD17Charles De KetelaereAtalanta (Serie A, Italy)2528
FWD11Jeremy DokuManchester City (Premier League, England)2341
FWD26Matias Fernandez-PardoLille (Ligue 1, France)210
FWD9Romelu LukakuNapoli (Serie A, Italy)33124
FWD14Dodi LukebakioBenfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)2829
FWD19Diego MoreiraStrasbourg (Ligue 1, France)212
FWD22Alexis SaelemaekersAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)2623
FWD10Leandro TrossardArsenal (Premier League, England)3150

Where to watch Spain vs. Belgium

In USA:

  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: fubo, Fox One, Fox Sports app/website

This match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.

The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up for a FREE trial.

Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Here is how to watch the match in some of the other major territories:

RegionTVStreaming
CanadaTSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5, RDSTSN+, RDS app
UKBBC OneBBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website
AustraliaSBSSBS On Demand
IndiaUnite8 Sports 1, 2ZEE5
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