World Cup 2026 (Quarter-finals): history of Spain vs. Belgium encounters

10.07.26 FT World Cup

Spain

2

:

Belgium

1

Spain meets Belgium once again on July 10, 2026 at 7 p.m. GMT in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. This will be their third showdown in a World Cup finals after La Roja’s victories in 1986 and 1990.

Lamine Yamal and his teammates knocked out Portugal in the Round of 16, clinching victory thanks to a last-gasp goal from Mikel Merino in stoppage time (90+1’). As for the Red Devils, they made light work of the United States, cruising to a 4-1 win.

Here's the head-to-head record between the two national teams:

• 29 August 1920 – Olympic Games (quarter-finals): Belgium – Spain (3-1)

• 9 Oct. 1921 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (2-0)

• 4 Feb. 1923 – Friendly: Belgium – Spain (1-0)

• 2 Jan. 1949 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (1-1)

• 19 March 1953 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (3-1)

• 31 March 1957 – Friendly: Belgium – Spain (0-5)

• 2 Dec. 1962 – Friendly: Belgium – Spain (1-1)

• 1 Dec. 1963 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (1-2)

• 11 Dec. 1968 – 1970 World Cup qualifiers: Spain – Belgium (1-1)

• 23 Feb. 1969 – 1970 World Cup qualifiers: Belgium – Spain (2-1)

• 15 June 1980 – European Championship (group stage): Belgium – Spain (2-1)

• 16 Dec. 1981 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (2-0)

• 19 Feb. 1986 – Friendly: Spain – Belgium (3-0)

• 22 June 1986 – World Cup (quarter-finals): Spain – Belgium (1-1, 5-6 on penalties)

• 21 June 1990 – World Cup (group stage): Belgium – Spain (1-2)

• 17 Dec. 1994 – Euro 1996 qualifiers: Belgium – Spain (1-4)

• 29 March 1995 – Euro 1996 qualifiers: Spain – Belgium (1-1)

• 9 Oct. 2004 – 2006 World Cup qualifiers: Spain – Belgium (2-0)

• 8 Oct. 2005 – 2006 World Cup qualifiers: Belgium – Spain (0-2)

• 15 Oct. 2008 – 2010 World Cup qualifiers: Belgium – Spain (1-2)

• 5 Sept. 2009 – 2010 World Cup qualifiers: Spain – Belgium (5-0)

• 1 Sept. 2016 – Friendly: Belgium – Spain (0-2)

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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