Belgium forced into last-minute team change after Youri Tielemans injury blow before Spain clash

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The Independent

10 July 2026

Belgium

have been forced into a last-minute team change ahead of their

World Cup quarter-final against Spain

after

Youri Tielemans

was ruled out of the starting XI due to injury.

Red Devils captain Tielemans was set to start alongside Nicolas Raskin in the middle of the park but was replaced by

Club Brugge

midfielder Hans Vanaken just 12 minutes before kick-off.

Belgium confirmed on their social media: “Following an injury during the warm-up,

is replaced in the starting XI by Hans Vanaken.”

The specific nature of the injury has not been confirmed but it has been reported that Tielemans has picked up a hamstring issue.

open image in gallery

Youri Tielemans will watch on from the sidelines for Belgium's quarter-final against

Spain

(Getty)

Tielemans has been integral in

reaching the World Cup’s last-eight, with his

clutch performance against Senegal

in the round of 32 saving his country from elimination.

After Romelu Lukaku halved Senegal’s two-goal advantage in the 86th minute, Tielemans came up with an equaliser a minute from time. He then slotted home a last-gasp penalty in the fifth minute of extra-time stoppages, breaking Senegalese hearts and setting up a last-16 tie against co-hosts USA.

Tielemans played the full match in Seattle as

overcame pre-match

controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s ban being suspended

dominating the USA to a 4-1 victory

Vanaken, meanwhile, came off the bench in that clash and was the beneficiary of a clown show at the back by the Americans, with goalkeeper Matt Freese dispossessed before the 33-year-old fired into an open net from range.

Hans Vanaken has come in for the injured Tielemans (Reuters)

He later got an assist to set up Lukaku’s 93rd-minute goal, adding salt to the US wounds.

Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku were left out of the USA tie but returned to the line-up to face

, who reached the quarter-finals by

beating Portugal

Amadou Onana suffers right knee injury in Belgium’s World Cup last 16 against United States

OffsAIde

Aston Villa and Belgium hit by major World Cup blow as Amadou Onana knee injury revealed

Youri Tielemans, calm and decisive, Belgium’s captain who ticks every box

Watch: Chelsea-linked Fabian Ruiz fires Spain ahead against Belgium in World Cup quarter-final

caughtoffside

The incredible World Cup record that Belgium broke against Spain 😱

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