Spain, considered one of the top favorites to win the title, faces a new serious test when it meets Belgium on Friday in the quarterfinals of the World Cup being held in North America, in their first official meeting in about 17 years.

A Fiery European Summit

Spain avenged its defeat in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final against Portugal thanks to Mikel Merino, who scored the only goal in the first minute of stoppage time, raising the number of goals scored in the final seconds of matches in this World Cup to ten, a new record in the tournament.

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This goal allowed 'La Roja' to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since winning the title in 2010. That remains their only win in this round of the World Cup, but a new era seems to be taking shape for Spanish football under Luis de la Fuente, who could become only the third European coach to advance from his first seven knockout matches in a major tournament, adding this World Cup to the Euro 2024 title that Spain won.

"Adds a Lot"

Spain also benefits from being the first team to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive matches in World Cup history, after its win over Portugal. Spain has not shown the same attacking flair as France, but relies on its cautious possession-based style, the approach that led it to the title in South Africa in 2010. The talented Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is the team's most dangerous attacking weapon on paper, but the teenager arrived in the United States still recovering from an injury suffered at the end of the season, and has only scored one goal in five matches. Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal has compensated by scoring four goals, including a brace in the 3-0 thrashing of Austria in the round of 32. Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo said his teammate Yamal is gradually developing during the tournament, stating: 'He adds a lot to the team with his dribbling and presence. When he gets the ball, two or three opponents rush at him, opening up spaces.' He added: 'Lamine scores and creates goals, he is used to that in his short career, and even when he doesn't, he continues to help us with the work he does.' However, Belgium may be the team capable of giving the Spanish defense, which has looked solid so far, its biggest test, after becoming the first team in this tournament to surpass 100 shots following its 4-1 win over the United States, one of the three host nations, on Monday. Against the backdrop of the controversy over the red card for Folarin Balogun, the squad of French coach Rudi Garcia extended its unbeaten streak to 18 matches (12 wins, 6 draws), averaging over three goals per match during this period. Belgium took only eight years to return to the quarterfinals, and hopes to repeat its previous achievement when it beat Brazil 2-1 in 2018 before finishing the tournament in third place. Without new absences, the two teams have met only once since being in the same group during qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup, and Spain won 2-0 in a friendly in 2016, extending its winning streak to five consecutive matches in this fixture since 2004. Spain has no new absences after the Portugal match, and Merino may start after opening his goal account in the tournament against Portugal, noting that ten of his eleven international goals have come in matches won by his country. For his part, it seemed almost destined for Romelu Lukaku to score when he came on as a substitute against the United States, after becoming the first player to score in four World Cup matches as a substitute. He raised his tally to eight goals as a substitute in the finals, tying Argentine Diego Maradona, German Rudi Völler, and Brazilian Rivaldo. Belgium will miss midfielder Amadou Onana due to a serious knee injury that ended his tournament.