Minutes before Belgium’s World Cup quarterfinal against Spain kicked off in Los Angeles on July 11, 2026, captain Youri Tielemans went down during warm-ups with an injury. Hans Vanaken stepped into the starting lineup.
Tielemans isn’t just any midfielder. He’s Belgium’s captain, the player who converted the latest game-winning penalty in World Cup history during an earlier group-stage match against Senegal.
Belgium’s midfield crisis
Tielemans’ absence compounds an already difficult situation for Belgium. Teammate Amadou Onana suffered a knee injury earlier in the tournament that ended his World Cup entirely. Losing both midfielders forces a significant strategic restructuring against a Spanish side that dominates possession.
Belgium’s starting lineup still features talent like Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jeremy Doku.
