Spain and Belgium will meet on Friday in a World Cup quarterfinal at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with both teams carrying strong form into one of the tournament's biggest matches.
Spain arrives as one of the pre-tournament favorites and the reigning European champion. It has not lost in 36 consecutive official matches since March 2023, and it has not conceded a goal in this World Cup. Even when the attack has not been at its sharpest over the last month, the defense has stayed perfect.
That defensive run has also featured Unai Simón. His World Cup clean-sheet streak began in 2022 in Qatar, and Spain's current run of six consecutive clean sheets has helped underline why it has looked so difficult to break down.
Belgium, meanwhile, comes in after a 4-1 win over the United States on Monday that extended its unbeaten run to 18 matches. The result added momentum to a team that has often been described as a star-filled generation that has never fully reached its potential.
Courtois says Belgium is not the favorite
Thibaut Courtois was direct about the challenge. He said Belgium is not the favorite against Spain, but he also believes the matchup is still open. His message was simple: Spain deserves the label of favorite, but Belgium still thinks it can win.
As Courtois put it, Spain are one of the favorites to win the tournament, so Belgium does not start as the favorite against them. He also said that in football anything is possible, and that Belgium can win with all due respect to Spain.
That sets up a quarterfinal with clear stakes. Spain's unbeaten run and defensive record will be tested by a Belgium team that has not lost in 18 matches and just scored four goals against the United States. The winner moves one step closer to the semifinal, and both sides arrive with legitimate reasons to believe they can keep going.
