Belgium Aims to Challenge Spain in FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals
Belgium's Underdog Status
Rudi Garcia, the coach of Belgium, has recognized that his team may enter the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain as the underdogs. However, he emphasized that the Belgian Red Devils are determined to put up a strong fight against La Rojas.
'We Believe in Our Potential'
Garcia acknowledged Spain's impressive possession-based gameplay but expressed confidence in Belgium's offensive capabilities. He stated that despite their underdog status, the team believes they can compete effectively against the European champions.
"We are aware that we are up against one of the tournament favorites. Spain excels in ball possession and has maintained a consistent style for the past 15 to 20 years. Nevertheless, we possess a strong team. We rank as the second-highest scorers in the World Cup, while Spain leads in expected goals. We believe we can achieve success," he remarked.
"Even as underdogs, we will strive to challenge them significantly," he added.
Belgium's Journey to the Quarter-Finals
Belgium advanced to the quarter-finals following a varied performance in the group stage, which included a 1-1 draw with Egypt, a goalless tie against Iran, and a decisive 5-1 victory over New Zealand. They narrowly defeated Senegal 3-2 in the Round of 32 and triumphed over co-hosts USA with a score of 4-1 in the Round of 16.
On the other hand, Spain enters the quarter-finals in excellent form, having not conceded a single goal throughout the tournament. They have achieved a remarkable six consecutive clean sheets in FIFA World Cup history. After finishing at the top of Group H, Spain eliminated Austria in the Round of 32 and narrowly overcame Portugal in the Round of 16.
Spain aims to secure a spot in the semi-finals for the first time since their championship victory in 2010, while Belgium, the bronze medalists from 2018, seeks to reach the semifinals with key contributions from veterans like Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne.