Pedri has been dropped from Spain's starting lineup for their World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday, July 10, 2026. Manager Luis de la Fuente has opted for Fabian Ruiz alongside Rodri in midfield, with Dani Olmo playing as the No. 10.
Nico Williams Returns to Bench
Nico Williams is back in the squad after recovering from a groin injury sustained in Spain's 1-0 win over Uruguay in the group stage. The Athletic Bilbao winger has missed Spain's last two knockout matches, a 3-0 victory over Austria and a 1-0 win against Portugal, where Mikel Merino scored a late winner to eliminate Cristiano Ronaldo. Williams was pictured in training before the Portugal match but did not feature. Alex Baena has been filling in on the left flank, while Ferran Torres impressed as a substitute against Portugal.
Yeremy Pino a Major Concern
Crystal Palace forward Yeremy Pino is a significant doubt after injuring his shoulder against Uruguay. His absence could impact Spain's attacking depth.
Spain's Starting XI and Team News
De la Fuente has largely kept his side unchanged throughout the tournament. Unai Simon remains the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Joan Garcia and David Raya. Pedro Porro starts at right-back, with Marcos Llorente as backup. Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte are the preferred centre-back pairing, while Marc Cucurella completes the back four on the left. Fabian replaces Pedri in midfield alongside Rodri, with Olmo as the No. 10, Lamine Yamal on the right, Baena on the left, and Mikel Oyarzabal as the false nine.
Confirmed Spain XI (4-2-3-1)
Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Fabian; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Match Details
The match kicks off at 8pm BST on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium). It will be broadcast live on BBC One. Belgium will be looking to upset the European champions in what promises to be a tightly contested quarter-final.
