Belgium’s head coach, Rudi Garcia, expressed disappointment as his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 journey concluded with a 1-2 quarterfinal loss to Spain. Garcia mentioned that injuries to their goalkeeper and captain during the match disrupted their plans. Despite a valiant effort, a late goal by Spain’s Mikel Merino sealed Belgium’s fate just before extra time.
Garcia acknowledged Spain’s early lead through Fabian Ruiz and Belgium’s equalizer by Charles De Ketelaere, breaking Spain’s streak of clean sheets. The match took a turn for the worse for Belgium when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was substituted due to injury in the 71st minute, leading to Spain’s winning goal by Merino.
Despite the defeat, Garcia commended his team for challenging Spain until the end and emphasized the learning experience from the loss. He praised his players for executing the tactical plan against Spain but admitted that luck favored the Spanish side on the crucial night.
When questioned about his future with the Belgian team, Garcia chose to focus on the disappointment felt by veteran players who might have participated in their final World Cup. He expressed regret that some players might not return to the national team but highlighted the team’s effort to reach this stage in the tournament.
Spain, the 2010 World Cup champions, will now face France, a two-time winner, in the upcoming semi-final match.
