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WORLD CUP 2026 · Friday, 10 July 2026 at 20:00 BST
Spain
2 – 1
Belgium

Match preview

Spain are clear favourites on ratings, with the model at 57%. Only a poor recent run (four-from-five) gives Belgium a way in.

57%
Spain
18%
Draw
25%
Belgium
Model fair odds
Spain
1.75
Draw
5.56
Belgium
4.00

Decimal fair odds from the model probabilities before bookmaker margin.

Spain
57%
Draw
18%
Belgium
25%
Elo rating: 2137 vs 1996 (+141)
Recent form: WWWWW vs LWWWD
Host advantage: Neutral venue
Model verdict: 57% / 18% / 25%
Most likely scores
Spain 1–0 (13%)
Spain 2–0 (12%)
Draw 1–1 (11%)
Spain 2–1 (10%)
Why Spain are favourites (57%)
  • Spain carry the higher Elo rating (+141 points)
  • Neutral venue — no home advantage applied
  • Spain unbeaten and winning in their last five (5W)
  • Belgium won 3 of their last five (3W 1D 1L)
  • Head-to-head treated as neutral — too few recent meetings to weigh (10% of the blend)

These factors combine to produce the 57% / 18% / 25% verdict above.

Expected match pattern

Spain are expected to control possession and territory, while Belgium will likely rely on defensive organisation and counter-attacks. An early Spain goal would force Belgium to open up, raising the chance of a multi-goal result; the longer it stays level, the more pressure shifts onto the favourites.

Expected goals: Spain 1.8 · Belgium 0.8

Quick stats

MetricSpainBelgium
Elo rating21371996
Last 5 record5W3W 1D 1L
Goals last 51113
Goals conceded last 516
Clean sheets last 541

Spain — last 5

  • Wv Belgium21
  • W@ Portugal10
  • Wv Austria30
  • W@ Uruguay10
  • Wv Saudi Arabia40

Belgium — last 5

  • L@ Spain12
  • W@ USA41
  • Wv Senegal32
  • W@ New Zealand51
  • Dv Iran00

Head to head

No recent meetings on record between these sides.

Confirmed lineups

Spain · 4-2-3-1
  1. 23Unai Simón G
  2. 12Pedro Porro D
  3. 22Pau Cubarsí D
  4. 14Aymeric Laporte D
  5. 24Marc Cucurella D
  6. 16Rodri M
  7. 8Fabián Ruiz M
  8. 19Lamine Yamal M
  9. 10Dani Olmo M
  10. 15Alex Baena M
  11. 21Mikel Oyarzabal F
Belgium · 4-2-3-1
  1. 1Thibaut Courtois G
  2. 21Timothy Castagne D
  3. 25Nathan Ngoy D
  4. 4Brandon Mechele D
  5. 5Maxim De Cuyper D
  6. 20Hans Vanaken M
  7. 23Nicolas Raskin M
  8. 10Leandro Trossard M
  9. 7Kevin De Bruyne M
  10. 11Jérémy Doku M
  11. 17Charles De Ketelaere F

Key matchups

Mikel Oyarzabal vs Nathan Ngoy

Spain's focal point in attack against the heart of Belgium's defence.

Lamine Yamal vs Leandro Trossard

The central-midfield battle most likely to decide who controls possession and territory.

Charles De Ketelaere vs Pau Cubarsí

Belgium's main outlet — how Spain's central defence handles him shapes the counter-attack threat.

Predictions are model output, not betting advice. The model blends an Elo rating, last-5 form and host advantage; ratings update after every tournament result, and fair odds and likely scorelines are derived from the same blend. Bet responsibly — 18+. See PuntHub for verified tipster services.