Before kick-off: define the sample first
| Outcome | matches | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Spain wins | 0 | — |
| Draws | 0 | — |
| Belgium wins | 0 | — |
FactUsing the explicit scope of completed 2026 World Cup matches before kick-off, the teams had met 0 times: 0 Spain wins, 0 draws and 0 Belgium wins. This is not presented as an all-time record.
FactThe comparison direction on this page is fixed: Spain is the recorded home side, Belgium the away side, and 2–1 is stored in that order. A later meeting would remain a separate event record.
Personnel: how the starting XI changed
FactSpain changed 1 starters from its previous match; Belgium changed 3 starters. Continuity is calculated from confirmed starters only.
FactSpain's new starters include Fabián Ruiz; Belgium's new starters include Hans Vanaken, Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku. The names connect the continuity count to specific personnel.
The result: 2–1 and the decisive sequence
FactThe final score was Spain 2–1 Belgium. The verified scoring sequence was 30′ Fabián Ruiz、41′ Charles De Ketelaere、88′ Mikel Merino. Score, sequence and line-up changes are facts; the mechanism inferred from them is labelled as analysis.
FactThe verification index for Spain versus Belgium fixes four fields: the 2–1 final score, the 2026 FIFA World Cup · Quarterfinals stage, the SoFi Stadium location and 3 scoring events. Together they identify this match without borrowing context from another fixture.
FactNode 1: Fabián Ruiz scored for Spain in minute 30, setting the ledger at 1–0; Node 2: Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium in minute 41, setting the ledger at 1–1; Node 3: Mikel Merino scored for Spain in minute 88, setting the ledger at 2–1
FactSpain's location key for this match is SoFi Stadium, shared by Belgium; Spain's 2 goals and Belgium's 1 goals belong only to this venue and kick-off record.
Why this result made sense
AnalysisSpain versus Belgium, 2–1: Spain converted the lead against Belgium into the 2-1 result. Aggregated player data shows a shot gap of 12 and a pass-completion gap of 12.2 percentage points; game-state management mattered more than any single possession number.