Spain hasn't given up a goal at the World Cup. Can Belgium change that?

It’s the one thing five teams in the 2026 World Cup have been unable to do, and what Belgium must now attempt to figure out:

How do you score on Spain?

The European power has practically built a brick wall in front of its net, standing as the only team that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament. That’s five games, more than 450 minutes, without an opponent celebrating a score. 

If that sounds insane, it’s because it is. The only team to not give up a goal in a World Cup was Switzerland in 2006 – but the Swiss only played four matches.

No team has ever become champion without giving up a goal, but Spain is more than halfway there, just three matches from doing so.

Unless Belgium can change that. It seems daunting, but if there’s any team that can do it, it’s the Red Devils.

“As far as we see it, I think that we need to play a perfect match,” said Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku.

Of course, Spain’s defensive brilliance starts with goalkeeper Unai Simon, who is in the midst of a historic World Cup run. Going back to the 2022 World Cup, he’s gone 609 straight minutes without a ball getting past him. Spain also is the first team to have six straight clean sheets in the World Cup.

But a closer look shows Simon hasn’t had much to worry about. In five matches this year, opponents have generated 29 shots, but only five have been on target. It’s the fewest amount of shots on goal attempted against any team in the tournament. 

It’s a product of Spain’s consistency on offense. La Roja has controlled possession in every match, and are disciplined with the ball with a 91% pass accuracy, tied with Argentina for tops at the World Cup. That leads to generating pressure and creating shot opportunities, keeping the other side from finding chances.

Plenty of credit goes to the rest of the players on the pitch, but Spain coach Luis de la Fuente insists it all starts with his keeper.

“A solid goalkeeper keeps you at ease. It gives you many solutions that you'll need for the game,” he said. “They give us all we need for the defensive and also for the attacking phases.”

If Spain’s defense has been an immovable object, it’s meeting what looks like an unstoppable force in Belgium.

After a slow start to the World Cup, the Red Devils have been the hottest offensive team, with 12 goals in their last three matches. Defenses are getting flustered trying to stop this attack that has taken the most attempts on goal entering the quarterfinals (107) and shots in the penalty area (70).

Millions of United States residents know all about it after Belgium ripped apart the USMNT to eliminate the host country in the round of 16 with a sound 4-1 result.

“Belgium is a very powerful team,” de la Fuente said. “These are players who are used to winning. It's going to be a challenging match.”

For as great as Spain has looked, Friday, July 10 inside SoFi Stadium screams it being the time Spain faces adversity, perhaps even a sudden exit. Then again, this is Spain, a tournament favorite that has looked the part – and has done quite well against Belgium.

Belgium has yet to beat Spain this century, the last victory coming in the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals. Since then, there’s been seven Spain victories and one draw. 

Sure, Belgium is in the middle of a resurgence, but La Roja is still the favorite. The belief is Spain will push through, and Belgium knows not many people are counting on an upset.

“Even if we're the underdog for tomorrow, we're going to do everything we can to give them a run for their money,” said Belgium coach Rudi Garcia.

There’s the possibility Belgium puts on its own defensive clinic and doesn't allow a Spain goal to get the game into penalties, but it realistically knows it needs to get that precious goal. The Spaniards are succeeding on offense, and throughout this tournament, a Spain goal has pretty much sealed the fate of the other team.

In order to pull off the upset, Belgium will have to do something Cristiano Ronaldo and others haven’t − finally break the Spain defense. It’s been impossible, but Belgium’s offense is up to the task of plowing through that brick wall.

“We're going to do everything we can to score in this quarterfinal. … Otherwise, we'll be sent packing,” Garcia said. “Everyone is already talking about us going home. But we think that we can do it.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spain hasn't given up a goal at the World Cup. Can Belgium change that?