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The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals continue with an all-European head-to-head on Friday at SoFi Stadium in California. Tournament favorites Spain will face dark horses Belgium to determine a spot against France in the World Cup semifinals.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente and his squad are unbeaten in five games this tournament, thanks to a stingy defense and tactical foundation. La Roja were considered tournament co-favorites alongside France, Argentina, and England to start the World Cup, and their reputation for not conceding goals and iron-clad ball movement stands out.
Mikel Oyarzabal leads the team in goals (four), but the group has plenty of capable scorers and playmakers, including 18-year-old Lamine Yamal.
Belgium were once considered a team with a golden generation that was losing its shine, but a massive, 4-1, quarterfinal win over tournament hosts United States has the Belgians believing once again.
The squad will have to manage without midfielder Amadou Onana, after he picked up an ACL injury in the quarterfinal. The silver lining is that Kevin De Bruyne is likely to return to the lineup after he was rested entirely from the starting lineup against the USA as a coach's decision.
The quarterfinal will be a test of pedigree against perennial hopefuls, and the winner moves on to Dallas for the semifinals.