Available in USI have been writing about this Spain side for the better part of a month now, and every time I think the defensive record cannot get more impressive, Unai Simón and the back line produce another clean sheet. Six consecutive World Cup clean sheets — the longest run in tournament history, passing Walter Zenga’s 1990 mark of 517 unbeaten minutes — and not a single goal conceded at this World Cup. Today at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (3:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM PT), Belgium get the chance to be the team that finally breaks through. The prize is a semi-final against France in Dallas on July 14. Here is the full breakdown.
Spain’s Record Run in Numbers
Let me put this in context, because the numbers are genuinely historic:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Goals conceded at 2026 WC | 0 |
| Clean sheets at 2026 WC | 5 in 5 matches |
| Consecutive WC clean sheets (all-time record) | 6 (including 2022) |
| Record broken | Walter Zenga (Italy), 1990 — 517 min unbeaten |
| Goals scored | 9 (incl. Merino’s 91st-min winner vs Portugal) |
| Tournament path | D 0–0 Cape Verde, W 4–0 (GS), W 1–0 Uruguay, W 3–0 Austria (R32), W 1–0 Portugal (R16) |
The defensive unit of Porro, Cubarsí, Laporte and Cucurella has been immense, but it starts from the front — Spain’s press has barely allowed opponents to breathe, and when the ball does get through, Simón has been impeccable.
Belgium — Talent and Trouble in Equal Measure
Belgium’s path to the quarter-finals tells you everything about this team: capable of brilliance, prone to chaos. A 5–1 group-stage win over New Zealand sits alongside a 3–2 comeback from 2–0 down against Senegal in the Round of 32 (extra time required), and the 4–1 demolition of the USA in the Round of 16 was the best performance by any team in the knockout rounds — until France’s display yesterday.
The problem is Amadou Onana. His ACL rupture in the 21st minute of the USA game was a tournament-changing blow. Onana was Belgium’s midfield enforcer, the player who allowed De Bruyne and Tielemans the freedom to create. Without him, Rudi Garcia will likely turn to Hans Vanaken — an experienced but less athletic option — and the entire midfield balance shifts.
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Spain: Nico Williams (right adductor strain, June 26) is back in the squad but unlikely to start — reports differ on severity, but the consensus is that Baena keeps the left-wing role. Yeremy Pino is available after his AC-joint sprain scare proved minor. Ferran Torres is one yellow from a semi-final ban.
Belgium: Amadou Onana is out (ACL, tournament over). Zeno Debast faces a late fitness test on a leg injury. Kevin De Bruyne is fit and tipped for a central recall after being managed in the group stage. Brandon Mechele is one yellow from a semi-final ban.
The Head-to-Head
Spain own this fixture in the modern era: 6 wins and 1 draw in the last 7 all-competition meetings, outscoring Belgium 16–3. The only World Cup quarter-final between them — 1986 in Mexico — went Belgium’s way on penalties, but that was 40 years and several football generations ago. Spain also beat Belgium 2–1 at the 1990 World Cup group stage. The trend is emphatically one-directional.
The Odds and My Read
| Outcome | Selection | Odds (decimal) | As of (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1.61 | July 10, 2026 |
| X | Draw | 3.95 | July 10, 2026 |
| 2 | Belgium | 5.50 | July 10, 2026 |
Source: DraftKings via SI, decimal, Canadian standard. Cross-book best: Spain 1.625, draw ~4.90, Belgium 5.70 (Covers). Confirm the live price before staking.
Spain at 1.61 is the side I back. The clean-sheet record, the H2H, and Belgium’s midfield damage all point the same way. The risk is that 1.61 does not offer much return on its own, which is why I would look at combining Spain to win with under 2.5 goals — this is almost certainly a low-scoring game, based on the way Spain have played every knockout tie.
Belgium at 5.50 requires De Bruyne to produce a masterclass and for Spain’s defensive concentration to break for the first time in six World Cup matches. It is possible — Belgium showed against the USA that they can score freely — but everything in the data says this Spain back line is a different proposition.
Conditions at SoFi
SoFi’s fixed canopy roof shelters the field from direct sun, but the sides are open. The forecast is 78–81°F at midday, mostly sunny by kickoff, with a Heat Advisory in effect across greater LA. Wind is a non-factor (SSE→SW 5–10 mph under the roof). Both teams will be comfortable.
- Spain have not conceded at this World Cup — 5 clean sheets, all-time record of 6 consecutive WC clean sheets.
- Belgium are without Amadou Onana (ACL, tournament over); Zeno Debast is a late fitness doubt.
- H2H: Spain 6W-1D in the last 7 all-competition meetings.
- Spain 1.61, draw 3.95, Belgium 5.50 (DraftKings via SI, July 10, 2026).
- The winner meets France in SF1 on July 14 in Dallas.
For the broader tournament picture see our quarter-final bracket analysis, today’s pick is in the July 10 predictions, and the Spain team page has the full campaign arc. Track the futures on the World Cup 2026 odds hub.
Odds reflect media-reported decimal lines as of July 10, 2026 and will move. 19+, please bet responsibly and only where legal in your province. New customers can compare current World Cup pricing with partners such as TikiTaka and Lamabet, with stakes and returns in CAD.
