Belgium captain Tielemans out injured before Spain match

Belgium's World Cup campaign suffered a significant setback just minutes before its quarterfinal match against Spain on Friday, July 10, 2026, as captain Youri Tielemans was forced to withdraw due to an injury sustained during the pregame warmup. The match took place in Los Angeles, California.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who had started all five of Belgium's previous tournament matches, was replaced in the starting lineup by Hans Vanaken of Club Brugge. Veteran playmaker Kevin De Bruyne, who returned to the lineup after being rested in the previous round, was named captain in Tielemans's absence. The specific nature of the injury was not officially confirmed, though reports indicated it was a hamstring issue.

The last-minute change compounded existing midfield woes for the Belgian squad, known as the Red Devils. Midfielder Amadou Onana, who also plays for Aston Villa alongside Tielemans, was already ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Belgium's 4-1 round of 16 victory over the United States on Monday, July 6.

Tielemans had been instrumental in Belgium's journey to the quarterfinals, most notably scoring both goals in...