Belgium's record in FIFA World Cup quarter-finals: Wins, losses and complete history
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The Red Devils have played in the World Cup quarter-final four times.
Spain and Belgium have played 24 times, with La Roja leading with 13 victories to the Red Devils’ six, and five draws.
Belgium had one of the most memorable encounters against them. It was a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes; they won in a thrilling penalty shootout at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla during the quarterfinals of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico against Spain.
That Belgian generation advanced to the semifinals, marking the country’s best World Cup finish at the time. Meanwhile, their record in the quarter-finals has been good in the World Cup. They have reached further in the competition twice out of three opportunities.
Also read: Spain’s record in FIFA World Cup quarter-finals: Wins, losses and complete history
Belgium’s record in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup
- Appearances: 4
- Wins: 2
- Defeats: 2
1986: Belgium 1-1 Spain (5-4 pen)
The Red Devils’ greatest World Cup result at the time was fourth place at the 1986 tournament in Mexico. They met Spain in the quarterfinals and drew 1-1 after 120 minutes. Belgium went to the semi-finals for the first time in history after winning the penalty shootout 5-4, with Leo Van der Elst converting the game-winning kick.
2014: Argentina 1-0 Belgium
The Red Devils advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, marking their triumphant return to the event after a 12-year hiatus.
Their campaign concluded in the quarter-finals against eventual runners-up Argentina. Gonzalo Higuaín scored an early goal in the 8th minute to separate Argentina from the Red Devils. The Argentine defence was disciplined and neutralised Belgium’s threat.
2018: Brazil 1-2 Belgium
They had their best-ever FIFA World Cup performance in 2018, placing third in Russia. The Red Devils, nicknamed the “Golden Generation,” won all of their group matches. They staged a remarkable 3-2 comeback against Japan in the Round of 16 and ousted tournament favourites Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Finally, they defeated England 2-0 in the third-place playoff.
2026: Spain 2-1 Belgium
The Belgium national football team failed to control the game from the start. This gave the Spaniards a slight edge, and they kept charging at the Belgian defence. La Roja broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, but just 11 minutes later Charles De Ketelaere levelled things for the Red Devils.
They could’ve outplayed the Luis de la Fuente-led side, but their efforts in the final third were not enough. The Spanish national football team scored a late goal to secure a win and eliminate Belgium from the FIFA World Cup 2026.
When was the last time the Red Devils reached the last eight of the World Cup?
In 2018.
How many times have they reached the last eight of the World Cup?
Before 2026, they had reached the quarter-final only three times.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.