Spain vs Belgium resulted in 2:1 when the teams met yesterday, Friday, at Los Angeles, USA. That second FIFA World Cup quarterfinal game started at 19:00 GMT.
Initially, there was no telling which would be the better team. Although Belgium, unlike Spain, has never reached the World Cup finals, it has reached the semis twice.
As for Spain, the team clinched the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. Interestingly, it was then Spain’s first time to reach the semi-finals. The second time is in this 23rd FIFA World Cup.
Spain vs Belgium Scorers
Fabián Ruiz of Spain scored the first goal of the game in the 30th minute of the first half. Apparently, luck was on Spain’s side as initially goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois of Belgium saved the goal attempt. It was an unexpected ball rebound that did him in.
Courtois kept making saves following Spain’s numerous attempts, until an apparent injury led to his substitution in the 73rd minute.
Then Mikel Marino scored Spain’s deciding goal in the 88th minute, when Belgium’s Senne Lammens was the goalkeeper in charge.
In between Spain’s two goals, Charles De Ketelaere had scored for Belgium. That was in the 41st minute. Hence, it was a 1:1 draw as the two European teams went on the half-time break.
What Next for the 2026 World Cup?
The 23rd FIFA World Cup games have continued to thrill fans worldwide. More thrilled are the fans in the US, Mexico, and Canada, the three host countries. However, going forward, football fans will be watching the remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup games out of the USA. The games based in Canada and Mexico are over.
And if the first quarterfinal games are anything to go by, the host stadiums will be packed. On Thursday, the France vs Morocco game attracted almost 64,000 fans to the Boston stadium. And yesterday, over 70,000 fans packed the LA stadium.
Today too, as England vs Norway takes place in Miami, fans are bound to fill the stadium. The game, scheduled for 21:00 GMT is likely to attract over 60,000 fans.
Incidentally, the Miami Hard Rock stadium’s capacity is slightly less than 65,000. 30,000 of the fans tonight are expected to be from England. Also, Miami residents are already feeling the presence of Norwegians the city.
Next Games after England vs Norway
After tonight’s Quarterfinal comes tomorrow’s, which will be Switzerland vs Argentina. That game is the last in the 2026 World Cup tournament, and it will take place at Kansas.
Thereafter, the world will have a break until Tuesday when the semi-finals begin. The opening game of the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, France vs Spain, will take place at Dallas. The game is scheduled to start at 19:00 GMT.
The other semi-final game is scheduled for Wednesday at Atlanta. However, the competing teams are yet to be known.
For now, football fans will be focusing on Miami. That is where England will play Norway tonight as from 21:00 GMT. That game will determine the first team for the Wednesday semi-final game. The teams for the first semi-final are already known.