Everyone expects Spain to beat us, says Belgium coach

This combination of pictures created on July 8, 2026, shows Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente (L) gesturing in Arlington on July 6, 2026; and Belgium's French head coach Rudi Garcia (R) gesturing in Anderlecht on September 7, 2025. Photo by PAUL ELLIS / AFP

Coach Rudi Garcia said “everyone” expects his Belgium team to be eliminated by Spain in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final, but backed his side to pull off a famous victory.

European champions Spain enter the match in Los Angeles as strong favourites, having not conceded a goal all tournament.

Belgium have had a tougher time of it, only narrowly topping their group after two draws with Egypt and Iran, and needing a late comeback to dispatch Senegal.

But at a press conference Thursday, Garcia appeared to relish being dubbed the “underdog.”