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Turnover regression has been a big theme of the 2026 NFL Playoffs

Turnover regression has been a big theme of the 2026 NFL Playoffs

Sports news

Through two rounds of the 2026 NFL postseason, turnovers have been a major story as usual, whether for timeliness, volume, or both. The Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos are both a win away from the Super Bowl thanks to overtime interceptions resulting in eventual game-winning field goals (although one was a lot more controversial than the other), while the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans are out after their respective ball security nightmares.

One of the blessings and curses of “win or go home” playoff games is that season-long trends don’t always stay intact, and that’s been the case these past two weeks. Turnover regression has swung positively and negatively for several eliminated teams and the top seeds in the Conference Championship round.

Bears, Texans, and Jaguars come back to Earth

The top three teams in positive turnover differential were the Chicago Bears (+22), Houston Texans (+17), and Jacksonville Jaguars (+13). All of them picked the worst possible time for negative turnover regression.

Chicago led the NFL in takeaways with 33, which propped up what was otherwise a below-average defense. After recording at least one turnover in 15 of 17 regular season games, the Bears failed to turn the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams over despite numerous opportunities. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams went from throwing seven interceptions all season to five in the postseason. The Bears had never finished -3 in turnovers under Caleb Williams until last Sunday, and the final interception to Kam Curl proved to be a dagger.

The elite Houston Texans defense ranked third in takeaways whereas the offense was second-best in giveaways. Demeco Ryans’ defense maintained its dominance by forcing five turnovers off of Aaron Rodgers and Drake Maye, only for C.J. Stroud to unravel. Stroud got away with a three-turnover showing in a blowout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but a comically bad four-interception disaster versus the New England Patriots was too much to overcome. Add in Woody Marks’ red zone fumble and the Texans turned it over five times for the first time since 2021.

Lastly, the Jaguars were second in defensive interceptions and only lost the turnover battle twice in the regular season. In the Wild Card round versus the Buffalo Bills, they neither won the turnover battle nor picked Josh Allen off. They did get a takeaway off of a Ray Davis kickoff return fumble but scored no points off of it. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who’d thrown 11 picks in his first 11 regular season games before throwing just one over the remaining six starts, had a first quarter interception resulting in a Bills field goal, and a season-ending pick in Jacksonville’s do-or-die possession.

Broncos, Seahawks buck regular season woes

The top teams in the AFC and NFC respectively made some history together. For the first time since seeding was introduced to the NFL playoffs in 1975, both number one seeds finished the regular season with a negative turnover differential. Denver and Seattle had identical -3 margins, but the Broncos were low on turnovers and giveaways, whereas the Seahawks had the second-most turnovers to outpace the sixth-most takeaways. Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold led the NFL with 20 turnovers, and the Seahawks topped the lost fumbles category—even their defense turned it over twice by fumbling interceptions back to the opposition.

How quickly things can change for the better.

Vance Joseph’s defense, which hadn’t forced more than two turnovers in a game all season, got four off of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and another from league-leading rusher James Cook. Bo Nix threw an interception but Allen gave it right back with a pick of his own. Denver scored 16 of their 33 points came off of Buffalo giveaways. If they’re to stand a chance in the AFC Championship without Bo Nix, a repeat of the Bills game on defense may be the winning formula to spring an upset.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks again made life hell for the 49ers offense, turning Brock Purdy over twice and recovering a Jake Tonges fumble in their 41-6 rout. Realistically, the turnovers didn’t have a strong effect on the outcome; what’s more important for Seattle was Darnold and the offense not turning it over for only the fifth time all season. It’s also the first time since Mike Macdonald became head coach in 2024 that Seattle has gone back-to-back games without a turnover.

There is recent precedent for Super Bowl champions with negative turnover differentials. The 2023 Kansas City Chiefs were somehow -11 in the regular season but +2 in the playoffs, the 2022 Chiefs were -3 in the regular season before a +4 mark in the postseason, and the 2015 Denver Broncos turned a -3 margin (including a league-worst 23 interceptions) into +4 in the playoffs.

Patriots, Rams living charmed lives?

The other half of the Conference Championship field consists of the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, both of whom have been on the positive side of the turnover count all season, and outside of New England’s Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, that’s held up through the playoffs. However, there’s been plenty of good fortune along the way for their MVP candidate quarterbacks.

It’s hard to believe that Drake Maye could be considered lucky to only have five turnovers through his first postseason, but he has fumbled six times already (two fewer than his entire regular season). The Patriots were able to recover three, most notably a strip-sack that Danielle Hunter seemed destined to pick up and at least set Houston up at New England’s 3-yard line, only for rookie left tackle Will Campbell to save the day.

Matthew Stafford has just the one turnover to his name after facing the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. Far from his sharpest at Soldier Field, Stafford fumbled twice on strip-sacks but the Bears couldn’t capitalize. Maybe the biggest play of the Rams’ season was not Kam Curl’s pick of Caleb Williams, but superstar receiver Puka Nacua breaking up a surefire interception to Nick Scott in the Panthers game when the Rams were trailing in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers have been a huge factor in the NFC Championship matchup, with the Rams getting six interceptions off Sam Darnold (plus a Cooper Kupp fumble for good measure) through two extremely close meetings. Seattle recovered a Puka Nacua fumble in the first game in Week 11, but ultimately Stafford has kept a clean scorecard. The trilogy may come down to whether or not Seattle can overcome its season-long issues on offense and if its defense finally forcing major mistakes out of Stafford.

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Deadspin | New Portugal coach would welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo July 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the match as Portugal are eliminated from the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Portugal’s new 71-year-old coach said “age doesn’t matter” and there still is a place on the team for 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. Jorge Jesus signed a four-year deal on Friday to coach Portugal through the 2030 World Cup. Jesus succeeded Spain’s Roberto Martinez, whose contract expired with Monday’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup round of 16. Jesus spent the past year coaching Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. “I’m 71, but I feel 50 because I’m healthy. I train every day — an hour or two. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m convinced we’ll win,” Jesus said Friday at Portugal’s Football Federation headquarters in Lisbon. “Age doesn’t matter. Look at Cris. Under me, he used to cover 8 kilometers per match, reaching speeds above 25 kilometers per hour.” Ronaldo announced his retirement from World Cup play but did not close the door on making future appearances for the national team. He is Portugal’s all-time leader in caps (233) and goals (146) and in 2026 joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only men to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup but was the subject of criticism from disappointed fans. “I haven’t spoken to Cris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me,” said Jesus. “As for the controversy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. “When the time comes to make a decision, I will speak with Cris and with everyone else individually. Cris is a symbol of Portugal. He will go down in history. It has been a great pleasure working with him. He is incredibly easy to work with. “I need to speak with him to find out what he wants to do. He has always told me that he wants to finish his career at Al Nassr. If he is in a position to be called up, I will do so.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Portugal #coach #Cristiano #Ronaldo July 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the match as Portugal are eliminated from the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Portugal’s new 71-year-old coach said “age doesn’t matter” and there still is a place on the team for 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jorge Jesus signed a four-year deal on Friday to coach Portugal through the 2030 World Cup.

Jesus succeeded Spain’s Roberto Martinez, whose contract expired with Monday’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup round of 16.

Jesus spent the past year coaching Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.

“I’m 71, but I feel 50 because I’m healthy. I train every day — an hour or two. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m convinced we’ll win,” Jesus said Friday at Portugal’s Football Federation headquarters in Lisbon.


“Age doesn’t matter. Look at Cris. Under me, he used to cover 8 kilometers per match, reaching speeds above 25 kilometers per hour.”

Ronaldo announced his retirement from World Cup play but did not close the door on making future appearances for the national team. He is Portugal’s all-time leader in caps (233) and goals (146) and in 2026 joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only men to appear in six World Cups.

Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup but was the subject of criticism from disappointed fans.

“I haven’t spoken to Cris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me,” said Jesus. “As for the controversy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

“When the time comes to make a decision, I will speak with Cris and with everyone else individually. Cris is a symbol of Portugal. He will go down in history. It has been a great pleasure working with him. He is incredibly easy to work with.

“I need to speak with him to find out what he wants to do. He has always told me that he wants to finish his career at Al Nassr. If he is in a position to be called up, I will do so.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Portugal #coach #Cristiano #Ronaldo">Deadspin | New Portugal coach would welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo July 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the match as Portugal are eliminated from the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Portugal’s new 71-year-old coach said “age doesn’t matter” and there still is a place on the team for 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. Jorge Jesus signed a four-year deal on Friday to coach Portugal through the 2030 World Cup. Jesus succeeded Spain’s Roberto Martinez, whose contract expired with Monday’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup round of 16. Jesus spent the past year coaching Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, with the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr. “I’m 71, but I feel 50 because I’m healthy. I train every day — an hour or two. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but I’m convinced we’ll win,” Jesus said Friday at Portugal’s Football Federation headquarters in Lisbon. “Age doesn’t matter. Look at Cris. Under me, he used to cover 8 kilometers per match, reaching speeds above 25 kilometers per hour.” Ronaldo announced his retirement from World Cup play but did not close the door on making future appearances for the national team. He is Portugal’s all-time leader in caps (233) and goals (146) and in 2026 joined Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only men to appear in six World Cups. Ronaldo scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup but was the subject of criticism from disappointed fans. “I haven’t spoken to Cris yet. He will never be a problem for the national team or for me,” said Jesus. “As for the controversy, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. “When the time comes to make a decision, I will speak with Cris and with everyone else individually. Cris is a symbol of Portugal. He will go down in history. It has been a great pleasure working with him. He is incredibly easy to work with. “I need to speak with him to find out what he wants to do. He has always told me that he wants to finish his career at Al Nassr. If he is in a position to be called up, I will do so.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Portugal #coach #Cristiano #Ronaldo

Football is hurtling back towards us. Training camp opens in the next couple of weeks for all 32 teams in the NFL, we’re less than a month from the Hall of Fame Game, and summer will be in the rearview mirror before we know it. Major questions are lingering around the league despite football almost being back, and we’ll only start to get answers when camp opens.

Let’s jump around the league to look at the biggest unknowns facing teams before we hit the first snaps of summer.

Who will get 1st team QB reps for the Browns?

In what promises to be the saddest quarterback battle of the summer, the Cleveland Browns are having an open contest between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. It’s a little bit like going out to dinner with your ex that you broke up with over red flags, and the person you were set up with whom you’re not sure you really like.

We know there’s going to be an open contest for who gets the job under center, but it will be fascinating to see which way the coaching staff is leaning as training camp opens. Not only that, but there’s a massive wrinkle to the battle which is largely being overlooked, and that is the fact Sanders is on a cheap rookie contract, while Watson is on the most overblown and devalued contract in the league.

The truth is that Watson is going to need to be drastically better than Sanders to get the job, and that makes the battle in camp all the more intriguing.

Can A.J. Brown develop an immediate rapport with Drake Maye?

One of the biggest trades of the offseason finally got done, and the idea of giving Drake Maye the deep threat he’s so desperately needed is a fascinating proposition. That said, just because it looks good on paper doesn’t mean this is going to be a match made in heaven.

We saw last year that Brown isn’t afraid of piping up when he thinks something is being done incorrectly. It takes a strong quarterback to balance keeping a superstar receiver happy and executing on a game plan — which is something we haven’t seen Maye need to tackle yet. Their burgeoning relationship will determine if the Patriots can be a perennial Super Bowl threat, or if the trade ends up being subtraction by addition.

Will Kyler Murray become the next Sam Darnold?

The Vikings have been floundering at their quarterback position for years, but always seem to find a way to put things together. That ended in 2025 with the decision to part ways with Sam Darnold after a mega year and turn the keys over to J.J. McCarthy. It could wind up being one of the most infamous decisions in recent memory — unless Kyler Murray can step up and become the guy.

It’s easy to forget how good Murray was with protection and a system that worked for him. We’re only a few years removed from him throwing for over 3,700 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Since that point it’s been an unceremonious tumble, making this his last best shot to stick in the NFL as a starting quarterback.

Publicly the Vikes have said there will be a competition between Murray and McCarthy, but we all know there is no comparison between the two players if Murray gels with this system. Our first chance to see whether or not that works out will be in camp.

This might be a question we can’t answer until the season really begins, but the first step is seeing how this young team progresses under John Harbaugh. Landing Harbs was a mammoth get for the G-Men, and following the NFL Draft they boast one of the scariest pass rushes in the league, if they can put it all together.

The Giants open their training camp in West Virginia with an eye on bonding and team building. That will be a crucial first step to see if these players can buy into the Harbaugh philosophy, and whether or not that translates on the field. If this all comes together then the Giants could be legitimate NFC East contenders, if not — well, it’ll be another disappointing season.

How quickly will Fernando Mendoza get the keys?

The Raiders are taking a cautious approach with the No. 1 overall pick to make sure he doesn’t have too much thrown at him at once. This means he will likely be splitting reps with Kirk Cousins at No. 1 in camp, with the ultimate plan to have Cousins start the season for the Raiders.

Still, how quickly Mendoza digests the playbook and integrates with his teammates will tell the story of how early we could see him this season. It’s unlikely the Raiders do anything but make some incremental improvement, because there’s a lot of work to do — but Vegas is also desperate to see some wins from this team, while also seeing their No. 1 pick take the field.

Are the Bears as good as advertised?

The Chicago Bears took a mammoth step under Ben Johnson in year one of the coach’s tenure, but the tough work starts now: Living up to expectations. There’s a firm belief that the Bears should be seriously contending in the NFC, and a sweetheart pick to win the NFC North — but it’s also one of football’s most brutal divisions.

Chicago will face a much tougher schedule in 2026, and how Caleb Williams rises to the occasion will set the tone for this entire organization. We know he has the athletic talent, but we’ve yet to really see how he can address going through the paces in a season where the Bears are expected to win a majority of their games.

Can the Chargers’ odd couple offense work?

We know what Jim Harbaugh likes when it comes to offense: He wants a no-nonsense running game, controlling the point of attack, and punctuating things with play action passes to generate chunk plays. It’s for this reason that the decision to hire Mike McDaniel to lead the offense was so fascinating/

McDaniel is an offensive genius, but he’s also all about some nonsense. An analytical disruptor, McDaniel’s philosophies on how to attack the field differ wildly from Harbaugh’s old school approach. In order to make this work the Chargers are going to need McDaniel to tone down his creativity a hair, while Harbaugh will need to put his trust in his OC. That could really work together, or everything could explode.

#big #questions #ahead #NFL #training #camp">7 big questions ahead of NFL training camp Football is hurtling back towards us. Training camp opens in the next couple of weeks for all 32 teams in the NFL, we’re less than a month from the Hall of Fame Game, and summer will be in the rearview mirror before we know it. Major questions are lingering around the league despite football almost being back, and we’ll only start to get answers when camp opens.Let’s jump around the league to look at the biggest unknowns facing teams before we hit the first snaps of summer.Who will get 1st team QB reps for the Browns?In what promises to be the saddest quarterback battle of the summer, the Cleveland Browns are having an open contest between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. It’s a little bit like going out to dinner with your ex that you broke up with over red flags, and the person you were set up with whom you’re not sure you really like.We know there’s going to be an open contest for who gets the job under center, but it will be fascinating to see which way the coaching staff is leaning as training camp opens. Not only that, but there’s a massive wrinkle to the battle which is largely being overlooked, and that is the fact Sanders is on a cheap rookie contract, while Watson is on the most overblown and devalued contract in the league.The truth is that Watson is going to need to be drastically better than Sanders to get the job, and that makes the battle in camp all the more intriguing.Can A.J. Brown develop an immediate rapport with Drake Maye?One of the biggest trades of the offseason finally got done, and the idea of giving Drake Maye the deep threat he’s so desperately needed is a fascinating proposition. That said, just because it looks good on paper doesn’t mean this is going to be a match made in heaven.We saw last year that Brown isn’t afraid of piping up when he thinks something is being done incorrectly. It takes a strong quarterback to balance keeping a superstar receiver happy and executing on a game plan — which is something we haven’t seen Maye need to tackle yet. Their burgeoning relationship will determine if the Patriots can be a perennial Super Bowl threat, or if the trade ends up being subtraction by addition.Will Kyler Murray become the next Sam Darnold?The Vikings have been floundering at their quarterback position for years, but always seem to find a way to put things together. That ended in 2025 with the decision to part ways with Sam Darnold after a mega year and turn the keys over to J.J. McCarthy. It could wind up being one of the most infamous decisions in recent memory — unless Kyler Murray can step up and become the guy.It’s easy to forget how good Murray was with protection and a system that worked for him. We’re only a few years removed from him throwing for over 3,700 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Since that point it’s been an unceremonious tumble, making this his last best shot to stick in the NFL as a starting quarterback.Publicly the Vikes have said there will be a competition between Murray and McCarthy, but we all know there is no comparison between the two players if Murray gels with this system. Our first chance to see whether or not that works out will be in camp.This might be a question we can’t answer until the season really begins, but the first step is seeing how this young team progresses under John Harbaugh. Landing Harbs was a mammoth get for the G-Men, and following the NFL Draft they boast one of the scariest pass rushes in the league, if they can put it all together.The Giants open their training camp in West Virginia with an eye on bonding and team building. That will be a crucial first step to see if these players can buy into the Harbaugh philosophy, and whether or not that translates on the field. If this all comes together then the Giants could be legitimate NFC East contenders, if not — well, it’ll be another disappointing season.How quickly will Fernando Mendoza get the keys?The Raiders are taking a cautious approach with the No. 1 overall pick to make sure he doesn’t have too much thrown at him at once. This means he will likely be splitting reps with Kirk Cousins at No. 1 in camp, with the ultimate plan to have Cousins start the season for the Raiders.Still, how quickly Mendoza digests the playbook and integrates with his teammates will tell the story of how early we could see him this season. It’s unlikely the Raiders do anything but make some incremental improvement, because there’s a lot of work to do — but Vegas is also desperate to see some wins from this team, while also seeing their No. 1 pick take the field.Are the Bears as good as advertised?The Chicago Bears took a mammoth step under Ben Johnson in year one of the coach’s tenure, but the tough work starts now: Living up to expectations. There’s a firm belief that the Bears should be seriously contending in the NFC, and a sweetheart pick to win the NFC North — but it’s also one of football’s most brutal divisions.Chicago will face a much tougher schedule in 2026, and how Caleb Williams rises to the occasion will set the tone for this entire organization. We know he has the athletic talent, but we’ve yet to really see how he can address going through the paces in a season where the Bears are expected to win a majority of their games.Can the Chargers’ odd couple offense work?We know what Jim Harbaugh likes when it comes to offense: He wants a no-nonsense running game, controlling the point of attack, and punctuating things with play action passes to generate chunk plays. It’s for this reason that the decision to hire Mike McDaniel to lead the offense was so fascinating/McDaniel is an offensive genius, but he’s also all about some nonsense. An analytical disruptor, McDaniel’s philosophies on how to attack the field differ wildly from Harbaugh’s old school approach. In order to make this work the Chargers are going to need McDaniel to tone down his creativity a hair, while Harbaugh will need to put his trust in his OC. That could really work together, or everything could explode. #big #questions #ahead #NFL #training #camp

ESP vs BEL LIVE – Follow live score, goals and updates as Spain and Belgium face off in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal in Los Angeles Stadium in California, USA.

Updated : Jul 11, 2026 00:34 IST

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal.

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

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Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium, which is being played in Inglewood, California. 

Will Lamine Yamal and Co. reign supreme in this last-eight clash, or will the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku stun the European champion tonight? Follow this space for real-time updates of this high-profile clash.

Spain, the 2010 world champion, has not reached the semifinal since — something it will look to change against Belgium, which is looking to win its maiden title.

Match Overview:

Match venue: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), Inglewood

Kick off date and time: 12 noon, July 10 (12:30 am IST, July 11) 

Referee: Michael Oliver

  • July 11, 2026 00:34

    OFFSIDE

    3′

    Spain attacks on the counter with a quick development along the left flank. Cucurella gets a low pass along the left flank but his cross is blocked. The linesman, however, raises the off-side flag.

  • 2′

    Yamal is fouled along the right flank. Spain gets a free-kick, which is taken quickly. Belgium is playing in its white away kit, while Spain starts in its traditional home kit of red and blue.

  • Kick Off!

    Belgium gets the ball rolling from right to left, with Spain starting from the other end. It goes for an early attack, but the ball ends comfortably into the gloves of Unai Simon.

  • A minute of silence!

    A minute of silence was observed before kick off in Spain vs Belgium for the wildfire in Almeria, which at least 12 several people and displaced hundreds more.

  • Let the ball roll

    The national anthems are done. The fans, with both of them clad in red, cheer after the anthems and the players take their positions on the field as a packed Los Angeles Stadium awaits the thrilling quarterfinal to begin.

  • Minutes to kick off!

    The players have lined up in the tunnel. The warm-ups are done, the flags are out. The two teams walk out to a raucous applause as Spain taken on Belgium in a clash of heavyweights.

  • Spain form guide: W-W-W-W-D

    Portugal 0-1 Spain

    Spain 3-0 Austria

    Uruguay 0-1 Spain

    Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

  • Belgium completing its final touches

    Belgium, which reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, is looking to emulate that record, or even improve on it this time around.

    Youri Tielemans trains with other Belgium players before the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.

  • Spain players absorb the ambience

    Spanish players have arrived at the Los Angeles Stadium, and after a brief stroll, have taken the field for their last-minute warm-ups.

    Spain players inspect the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.

  • Belgium form guide: W-W-W-D-D

    United States 1-4 Belgium

    Belgium 3-2 (a.e.t.) Senegal

    New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

    Belgium 0-0 Iran

    Belgium 1-1 Egypt

  • Kevin de Bruyne back in the starting XI

    Belgium has brought back its midfield strongmen in Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku. Both of them were benched in their previous clash, one which saw the Red Devils locks horns with the USA in round of 16, wherein American forward Folarin Balogun had his suspension revoked.

  • One change for Spain!

    Spain makes only one change in its starting line-up, with Fabian Ruiz getting a starting call-up over Pedri. The Barcelona midfielder has had a forgettable spell in this tournament so far, way poorer than the way he usually plays in the middle of the park.

  • Confirmed line-ups: Belgium

    Thibaut Courtois; Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nayhan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele; Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku

  • Confirmed line-ups: Spain

    Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena; Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal

  • How did Spain qualify for the quarterfinals?

    Spain, the reigning European champion, topped its FIFA World Cup group, having beaten Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and then beat Austria and Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

  • Spain vs Belgium predicted lineups

    Spain: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Rodri, Pedri, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal

    Belgium: Courtois, de Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, Raskin, Trossard, De Ketelaere, Doku

  • Match preview

    Spain is set to take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals stage. The match is set to be held at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, July 10.

    Both sides topped their groups, before a contrasting run to the quarterfinal fixture. Spain was able to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Round of 32, before a late 1-0 win over Portugal in the previous round.

    Belgium had to rely on a late comeback, and a stoppage time penalty in the second half of extra time to get past Senegal in the Round of 32, before a 4-1 victory over hosts USA in the Round of 16.

    The winner of this fixture will face France in the first semifinal.

Published on Jul 10, 2026

#LIVE #SCORE #Spain #Belgium #FIFA #World #Cup #Yamal #Bruyne #start #Quarterfinal #Tielemans #minute">LIVE SCORE – Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup — Yamal, De Bruyne start in Quarterfinal; Tielemans out in last minute ESP vs BEL LIVE – Follow live score, goals and updates as Spain and Belgium face off in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal in Los Angeles Stadium in California, USA. Updated : Jul 11, 2026 00:34 IST Comments Follow UsSHARE Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit READ LATERLamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium, which is being played in Inglewood, California. Will Lamine Yamal and Co. reign supreme in this last-eight clash, or will the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku stun the European champion tonight? Follow this space for real-time updates of this high-profile clash.Spain, the 2010 world champion, has not reached the semifinal since — something it will look to change against Belgium, which is looking to win its maiden title.Match Overview:Match venue: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), InglewoodKick off date and time: 12 noon, July 10 (12:30 am IST, July 11) Referee: Michael OliverJuly 11, 2026 00:34OFFSIDE 3′ Spain attacks on the counter with a quick development along the left flank. Cucurella gets a low pass along the left flank but his cross is blocked. The linesman, however, raises the off-side flag. 2′ Yamal is fouled along the right flank. Spain gets a free-kick, which is taken quickly. Belgium is playing in its white away kit, while Spain starts in its traditional home kit of red and blue. Kick Off! Belgium gets the ball rolling from right to left, with Spain starting from the other end. It goes for an early attack, but the ball ends comfortably into the gloves of Unai Simon. A minute of silence! A minute of silence was observed before kick off in Spain vs Belgium for the wildfire in Almeria, which at least 12 several people and displaced hundreds more. Let the ball roll The national anthems are done. The fans, with both of them clad in red, cheer after the anthems and the players take their positions on the field as a packed Los Angeles Stadium awaits the thrilling quarterfinal to begin. Minutes to kick off! The players have lined up in the tunnel. The warm-ups are done, the flags are out. The two teams walk out to a raucous applause as Spain taken on Belgium in a clash of heavyweights. Spain form guide: W-W-W-W-D Portugal 0-1 SpainSpain 3-0 AustriaUruguay 0-1 SpainSpain 4-0 Saudi ArabiaSpain 0-0 Cape Verde Belgium completing its final touches Belgium, which reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, is looking to emulate that record, or even improve on it this time around.Youri Tielemans trains with other Belgium players before the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California. Spain players absorb the ambience Spanish players have arrived at the Los Angeles Stadium, and after a brief stroll, have taken the field for their last-minute warm-ups.Spain players inspect the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium. Belgium form guide: W-W-W-D-D United States 1-4 BelgiumBelgium 3-2 (a.e.t.) SenegalNew Zealand 1-5 BelgiumBelgium 0-0 IranBelgium 1-1 Egypt Kevin de Bruyne back in the starting XI Belgium has brought back its midfield strongmen in Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku. Both of them were benched in their previous clash, one which saw the Red Devils locks horns with the USA in round of 16, wherein American forward Folarin Balogun had his suspension revoked. One change for Spain! Spain makes only one change in its starting line-up, with Fabian Ruiz getting a starting call-up over Pedri. The Barcelona midfielder has had a forgettable spell in this tournament so far, way poorer than the way he usually plays in the middle of the park. Confirmed line-ups: Belgium Thibaut Courtois; Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nayhan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele; Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku Confirmed line-ups: Spain Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena; Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal How did Spain qualify for the quarterfinals? Spain, the reigning European champion, topped its FIFA World Cup group, having beaten Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and then beat Austria and Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. Spain vs Belgium predicted lineups Spain: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Rodri, Pedri, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, OyarzabalBelgium: Courtois, de Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, Raskin, Trossard, De Ketelaere, Doku Match preview Spain is set to take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals stage. The match is set to be held at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, July 10.Both sides topped their groups, before a contrasting run to the quarterfinal fixture. Spain was able to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Round of 32, before a late 1-0 win over Portugal in the previous round.Belgium had to rely on a late comeback, and a stoppage time penalty in the second half of extra time to get past Senegal in the Round of 32, before a 4-1 victory over hosts USA in the Round of 16.The winner of this fixture will face France in the first semifinal.Published on Jul 10, 2026 #LIVE #SCORE #Spain #Belgium #FIFA #World #Cup #Yamal #Bruyne #start #Quarterfinal #Tielemans #minute

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal.

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

lightbox-info

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium, which is being played in Inglewood, California. 

Will Lamine Yamal and Co. reign supreme in this last-eight clash, or will the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku stun the European champion tonight? Follow this space for real-time updates of this high-profile clash.

Spain, the 2010 world champion, has not reached the semifinal since — something it will look to change against Belgium, which is looking to win its maiden title.

Match Overview:

Match venue: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), Inglewood

Kick off date and time: 12 noon, July 10 (12:30 am IST, July 11) 

Referee: Michael Oliver

  • July 11, 2026 00:34

    OFFSIDE

    3′

    Spain attacks on the counter with a quick development along the left flank. Cucurella gets a low pass along the left flank but his cross is blocked. The linesman, however, raises the off-side flag.

  • 2′

    Yamal is fouled along the right flank. Spain gets a free-kick, which is taken quickly. Belgium is playing in its white away kit, while Spain starts in its traditional home kit of red and blue.

  • Kick Off!

    Belgium gets the ball rolling from right to left, with Spain starting from the other end. It goes for an early attack, but the ball ends comfortably into the gloves of Unai Simon.

  • A minute of silence!

    A minute of silence was observed before kick off in Spain vs Belgium for the wildfire in Almeria, which at least 12 several people and displaced hundreds more.

  • Let the ball roll

    The national anthems are done. The fans, with both of them clad in red, cheer after the anthems and the players take their positions on the field as a packed Los Angeles Stadium awaits the thrilling quarterfinal to begin.

  • Minutes to kick off!

    The players have lined up in the tunnel. The warm-ups are done, the flags are out. The two teams walk out to a raucous applause as Spain taken on Belgium in a clash of heavyweights.

  • Spain form guide: W-W-W-W-D

    Portugal 0-1 Spain

    Spain 3-0 Austria

    Uruguay 0-1 Spain

    Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

  • Belgium completing its final touches

    Belgium, which reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, is looking to emulate that record, or even improve on it this time around.

    Youri Tielemans trains with other Belgium players before the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.

  • Spain players absorb the ambience

    Spanish players have arrived at the Los Angeles Stadium, and after a brief stroll, have taken the field for their last-minute warm-ups.

    Spain players inspect the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.

  • Belgium form guide: W-W-W-D-D

    United States 1-4 Belgium

    Belgium 3-2 (a.e.t.) Senegal

    New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

    Belgium 0-0 Iran

    Belgium 1-1 Egypt

  • Kevin de Bruyne back in the starting XI

    Belgium has brought back its midfield strongmen in Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku. Both of them were benched in their previous clash, one which saw the Red Devils locks horns with the USA in round of 16, wherein American forward Folarin Balogun had his suspension revoked.

  • One change for Spain!

    Spain makes only one change in its starting line-up, with Fabian Ruiz getting a starting call-up over Pedri. The Barcelona midfielder has had a forgettable spell in this tournament so far, way poorer than the way he usually plays in the middle of the park.

  • Confirmed line-ups: Belgium

    Thibaut Courtois; Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nayhan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele; Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku

  • Confirmed line-ups: Spain

    Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena; Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal

  • How did Spain qualify for the quarterfinals?

    Spain, the reigning European champion, topped its FIFA World Cup group, having beaten Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and then beat Austria and Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

  • Spain vs Belgium predicted lineups

    Spain: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Rodri, Pedri, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal

    Belgium: Courtois, de Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, Raskin, Trossard, De Ketelaere, Doku

  • Match preview

    Spain is set to take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals stage. The match is set to be held at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, July 10.

    Both sides topped their groups, before a contrasting run to the quarterfinal fixture. Spain was able to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Round of 32, before a late 1-0 win over Portugal in the previous round.

    Belgium had to rely on a late comeback, and a stoppage time penalty in the second half of extra time to get past Senegal in the Round of 32, before a 4-1 victory over hosts USA in the Round of 16.

    The winner of this fixture will face France in the first semifinal.

Published on Jul 10, 2026

#LIVE #SCORE #Spain #Belgium #FIFA #World #Cup #Yamal #Bruyne #start #Quarterfinal #Tielemans #minute">LIVE SCORE – Spain vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup — Yamal, De Bruyne start in Quarterfinal; Tielemans out in last minute

ESP vs BEL LIVE – Follow live score, goals and updates as Spain and Belgium face off in their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal in Los Angeles Stadium in California, USA.

Updated : Jul 11, 2026 00:34 IST

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal.

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

lightbox-info

Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal will expectedly be among the leaders in attack for Spain as it takes on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal between Spain and Belgium, which is being played in Inglewood, California. 

Will Lamine Yamal and Co. reign supreme in this last-eight clash, or will the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku stun the European champion tonight? Follow this space for real-time updates of this high-profile clash.

Spain, the 2010 world champion, has not reached the semifinal since — something it will look to change against Belgium, which is looking to win its maiden title.

Match Overview:

Match venue: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), Inglewood

Kick off date and time: 12 noon, July 10 (12:30 am IST, July 11) 

Referee: Michael Oliver

  • July 11, 2026 00:34

    OFFSIDE

    3′

    Spain attacks on the counter with a quick development along the left flank. Cucurella gets a low pass along the left flank but his cross is blocked. The linesman, however, raises the off-side flag.

  • 2′

    Yamal is fouled along the right flank. Spain gets a free-kick, which is taken quickly. Belgium is playing in its white away kit, while Spain starts in its traditional home kit of red and blue.

  • Kick Off!

    Belgium gets the ball rolling from right to left, with Spain starting from the other end. It goes for an early attack, but the ball ends comfortably into the gloves of Unai Simon.

  • A minute of silence!

    A minute of silence was observed before kick off in Spain vs Belgium for the wildfire in Almeria, which at least 12 several people and displaced hundreds more.

  • Let the ball roll

    The national anthems are done. The fans, with both of them clad in red, cheer after the anthems and the players take their positions on the field as a packed Los Angeles Stadium awaits the thrilling quarterfinal to begin.

  • Minutes to kick off!

    The players have lined up in the tunnel. The warm-ups are done, the flags are out. The two teams walk out to a raucous applause as Spain taken on Belgium in a clash of heavyweights.

  • Spain form guide: W-W-W-W-D

    Portugal 0-1 Spain

    Spain 3-0 Austria

    Uruguay 0-1 Spain

    Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

    Spain 0-0 Cape Verde

  • Belgium completing its final touches

    Belgium, which reached the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, is looking to emulate that record, or even improve on it this time around.

    Youri Tielemans trains with other Belgium players before the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.

  • Spain players absorb the ambience

    Spanish players have arrived at the Los Angeles Stadium, and after a brief stroll, have taken the field for their last-minute warm-ups.

    Spain players inspect the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.

  • Belgium form guide: W-W-W-D-D

    United States 1-4 Belgium

    Belgium 3-2 (a.e.t.) Senegal

    New Zealand 1-5 Belgium

    Belgium 0-0 Iran

    Belgium 1-1 Egypt

  • Kevin de Bruyne back in the starting XI

    Belgium has brought back its midfield strongmen in Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku. Both of them were benched in their previous clash, one which saw the Red Devils locks horns with the USA in round of 16, wherein American forward Folarin Balogun had his suspension revoked.

  • One change for Spain!

    Spain makes only one change in its starting line-up, with Fabian Ruiz getting a starting call-up over Pedri. The Barcelona midfielder has had a forgettable spell in this tournament so far, way poorer than the way he usually plays in the middle of the park.

  • Confirmed line-ups: Belgium

    Thibaut Courtois; Maxim De Cuyper, Timothy Castagne, Nayhan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele; Kevin De Bruyne, Hans Vanaken, Nicolas Raskin; Leandro Trossard, Charles de Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku

  • Confirmed line-ups: Spain

    Unai Simon; Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, Pedro Porro; Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena; Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal

  • How did Spain qualify for the quarterfinals?

    Spain, the reigning European champion, topped its FIFA World Cup group, having beaten Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, and then beat Austria and Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

  • Spain vs Belgium predicted lineups

    Spain: Unai Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Cubarsi, Porro, Rodri, Pedri, Baena, Olmo, Yamal, Oyarzabal

    Belgium: Courtois, de Cuyper, Mechele, Ngoy, Castagne, Tielemans, Vanaken, Raskin, Trossard, De Ketelaere, Doku

  • Match preview

    Spain is set to take on Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals stage. The match is set to be held at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, July 10.

    Both sides topped their groups, before a contrasting run to the quarterfinal fixture. Spain was able to secure a convincing 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Round of 32, before a late 1-0 win over Portugal in the previous round.

    Belgium had to rely on a late comeback, and a stoppage time penalty in the second half of extra time to get past Senegal in the Round of 32, before a 4-1 victory over hosts USA in the Round of 16.

    The winner of this fixture will face France in the first semifinal.

Published on Jul 10, 2026

#LIVE #SCORE #Spain #Belgium #FIFA #World #Cup #Yamal #Bruyne #start #Quarterfinal #Tielemans #minute

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