Belgium Faces Setback as Courtois Injured in World Cup Quarterfinal Against Spain

In a tense quarterfinal match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Belgium faced a significant setback when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was injured, forcing him to leave the game against Spain. The match, which saw Belgium equalize through Charles De Ketelaere, ended Spain's remarkable defensive streak. This incident raises concerns about Courtois's future in the tournament, adding to the drama of the World Cup. Read on to discover how this pivotal moment unfolded and its implications for Belgium's campaign.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 11, 2026, 02:48 IST

Belgium's Quarterfinal Challenge

In a dramatic turn of events during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match against Spain, Belgium encountered a significant hurdle when their goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, had to leave the field due to an injury. This incident occurred on Friday, as reported by a prominent news outlet.

The match was tied at 1-1 when Courtois fell to the ground, clutching his left thigh in the second half. Medical personnel attended to him on the pitch, and although he made a brief return after a hydration break, he soon signaled that he could no longer continue.

Senne Lammens stepped in as Courtois's replacement in the 71st minute. The veteran goalkeeper appeared visibly upset while sitting on the bench, raising fears that his World Cup journey might be over, regardless of the outcome against Spain.

Earlier in the match, Belgium managed to break Spain's impressive defensive streak in the World Cup when Charles De Ketelaere scored, leveling the game at 1-1 after Spain had taken the lead through Fabian Ruiz in the 30th minute.

De Ketelaere's goal, which came in the 41st minute, ended Spain's astonishing run of 649 minutes without conceding a goal in the World Cup, marking the longest such streak in the tournament's history.

This defensive record had persisted since Spain's last group-stage match against Japan in the 2022 World Cup, continuing through their unbeaten streak in the 2026 edition until De Ketelaere finally found a way past their defense.