Spain-Belgium Quarter-Final Tied 1-1 at Half-Time

The first half of the breathtaking giant clash between Spain and Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals has officially concluded. The two teams went to the locker room with a 1-1 tie, putting on a fierce competition to become France's opponent in the semi-finals. This tough battle between two giant nations, which have drawn attention with their superior performances since the beginning of the tournament, witnessed a highly entertaining and up-tempo first 45 minutes, just as expected.

Taking control of the ball from the very first whistle, Spain managed to push the game into the opponent's half, practically trapping their rivals in their own area. As a matter of fact, this intense pressure yielded results in a short time. Fabian Ruiz, who took the stage in the 30th minute, scored the goal that put Spain ahead 1-0 with a wonderful finish. However, the response to this goal was not delayed for long. Belgium, although struggling to reach the opponent's goal with organized attacks, tried to be effective with quick counter-attacks and brought balance to the score with a stylish goal scored by Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st minute, determining the first half's scoreline as 1-1.

Looking at the statistics of the first half, Spain's overwhelming superiority stands out. The Spaniards created a massive difference in possession with 66 percent to 34 percent. While Spain took a total of 10 shots, they found the target in 3 of them and pushed the opposing goalkeeper quite a bit. Belgium, on the other hand, could only take 2 shots, and their single shot on target met the net. In passing statistics, Spain completed 305 passes with a 90 percent accuracy rate, compared to Belgium's 174 passes at an 83 percent accuracy rate. It is certain that a much more exciting 45 minutes await us in the second half.

Image: BBC