Spain vs Belgium: World Cup History, Past Matches, and Team Records
Spain and Belgium at the World Cup
These two European teams are meeting at the World Cup for the third time. Out of the quarterfinal matches, three-quarters feature European nations, which means Spain and Belgium face a familiar continent rival on this stage.
While England and Norway are playing each other for the first time in World Cup history, Spain and Belgium already share some history. They have clashed twice in World Cup tournaments and met frequently outside of it, setting up an intriguing matchup between sides that know each other well but haven't recently crossed paths in competitive play.
History of Encounters Between Spain and Belgium
Overall, these countries have faced each other 22 times, with 10 of those meetings since 1986. Their last World Cup encounter was back in 1990, and their most recent game, a friendly, occurred in 2016.
Spain holds the advantage with wins in most head-to-head games, including their last five encounters. Yet, Belgium's last triumph over Spain happened during the 1986 World Cup, a match officially recorded as a draw but decided by a penalty shootout that sent Belgium to the semifinals. Four years later, Spain took victory in a group stage match against Belgium.
Head-to-Head Record
Spain leads with 12 wins, while Belgium has 5, and there have been 5 draws since their first meeting in 1921. The teams have not played each other since 2016, and they last competed in a match with stakes in 2009, when Spain routed Belgium 5-0 during World Cup qualifying.
Belgium hasn't beaten Spain since that 1986 quarterfinal victory. The two sides drew in the 1995 European Qualifiers, but otherwise, Spain has dominated encounters over the past four decades.
The so-called Belgian "golden generation," emerging in the early 2010s, has only faced Spain once and never in a meaningful competition. Their World Cup head-to-head record stands tied at one win apiece.
Last Five Meetings
In these five recent clashes dating back to 2004, Spain outscored Belgium 13 to 1.
The Last Match Between Spain and Belgium
Their most recent meeting took place on September 1, 2016, in an international friendly. This match marked the only occasion when Belgium's "golden generation" played against Spain.
Despite Belgium showcasing some of its best football during the 2010s, Spain claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory thanks to two goals from David Silva. He scored once in the 34th minute and converted a penalty in the 62nd minute, securing the win.
This game was also the first victory for then-Spain manager Julen Lopetegui. His tenure ended less than two years later after being dismissed just days before the 2018 World Cup due to his plans to take the Real Madrid job.
