The Spanish national soccer team has already faced Belgium 23 times; it will face them again this coming Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, and remains undefeated in its last eight matches against them, with five consecutive wins, since Spain’s loss on penalty kicks at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
On June 22, 1986, also in the quarterfinals, at Cuauthemoc Stadium in Puebla, Mexico, the Diablos Rojos defeated Spain—coached by Miguel Muñoz—5–4 in a penalty shootout. In the penalty shootout, Belgium scored all five of its attempts, while “La Roja” scored four; Jean Marie Pfaff stopped Eloy Olalla’s shot.
Spain boasts two decades of dominance over Belgium
The match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, with Jan Ceulemans scoring in the 35th minute and Juan Señor tying the game in the 85th.
It all came down to a penalty shootout and Spain’s most recent loss to Belgium.
An opponent he will face again this coming Friday in Los Angeles.
Since then, Spain has not lost to Belgium again, and Belgium has won each and every one of their five most recent matches:
0–2 on September 1, 2016; 5–0 on September 5, 2009; 1–2 on October 15, 2008; 0–2 on October 8, 2005; and 2–0 on October 9, 2004.
They have faced each other 23 times
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The head-to-head record strongly favors La Roja
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In addition, after Mexico 1986, they also tied one match—1-1 on March 29, 1995—and won two others:
1–4 on December 17, 1994, and 1–2 on June 21, 1990, in the first round of the World Cup in Italy, with goals by Gorriz and Míchel.
In total, Spain and Belgium have faced each other 23 times, with 12 wins for Spain, six for Belgium, and four ties.
However, in recent years, “La Roja” has lost only one of its eleven matches against the “Diablos Rojos”—the one in Mexico in 1986.
With information from EFE
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