“Everyone thinks we’re out, but we don’t”
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia believes his team is far from finished at the 2026 World Cup, despite widespread expectations that they will be eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals. Speaking ahead of the high‑stakes clash in Los Angeles, Garcia underlined that his players are fully committed to challenging one of the tournament’s top favourites.
Belgium will face a Spanish side that has impressed with its balance and defensive solidity. Garcia openly acknowledged the scale of the task, but insisted that belief inside the Belgian camp remains unshaken.
“We know we’re going up against one of the strongest teams in this World Cup,” Garcia said. “Spain have returned to their traditional identity of dominating possession, but now they combine it with a far more solid structure. They haven’t conceded a single goal in the tournament so far, yet records are there to be broken. In the quarter-final we will do everything we can to score.”
The press conference took place at Los Angeles Stadium, where Garcia was joined by his main striker Romelu Lukaku. Both projected calm determination rather than resignation. For Garcia, the key is not to allow Spain to dictate the rhythm.
“We must have a real impact on the game,” he stressed. “If we sit back and become passive, I’m convinced we’ll be knocked out. But I don’t think that will happen. We have a very good team, with players who can score in different ways. The numbers back that up: we’re the second highest‑scoring side in the competition and, as far as I know, the team that shoots the most. Everyone sees us as already eliminated, but inside the dressing room we believe in ourselves. We are convinced we can do it and we’ll use every ounce of energy to reach the semi-finals.”
Garcia argued that the true value of a coach and a squad does not emerge when everything is going smoothly, but when the path becomes complicated. “The quality of a group of players and a technical staff is not revealed when things are easy, but when they get tough,” he pointed out. “We suffered against Senegal, because we faced a team that, in another group, would never have finished third. They had the level to qualify directly. We had to dig deep and rely on contributions from the bench to get through.”
For the Belgian coach, the matchday squad is not just about the starting XI. He explained that he prepares the team in two layers: those who begin the encounter and those who are expected to finish it. “I always build my line‑up in two stages: the eleven who start and the eleven who finish the match,” Garcia said. “The substitutes are not a secondary detail; they’re part of the plan from the first minute. We want to show everyone that we don’t just deserve to be in the quarter-final – we deserve to go further.”
A major boost for Belgium is the readiness of their captain and creative leader. Garcia confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne is fit and available. His presence gives Belgium a crucial weapon against Spain’s compact midfield structure. De Bruyne’s ability to find vertical passes and create chances in tight spaces is seen inside the camp as one of the keys to unsettling Spain’s defensive record.
Beyond tactics, Garcia insists that mental strength will be decisive. Walking into a match where many neutral observers have already written off Belgium can, in his view, become an advantage rather than a burden. “When people think you’re done, you can play with more freedom,” he suggested. “We respect Spain, of course, but we are not afraid. Pressure is normal at this level. The important thing is to transform it into energy, not into fear.”
The coach also highlighted the evolution of his team during the tournament. Belgium entered the World Cup with question marks about the end of their so‑called “golden generation”, yet have gradually built momentum. Younger players have stepped up around experienced pillars like De Bruyne, Lukaku and others, giving the squad a mix of hunger and know‑how.
According to Garcia, the win over Senegal was a turning point in terms of character. “That match showed me that this group doesn’t collapse when things go wrong,” he explained. “We struggled, we were pushed to our limits, but we found solutions. The players who came on made a difference. That resilience is what you need to go deep in a World Cup.”
Facing Spain, Belgium are expected to spend long spells without the ball, something Garcia is fully aware of. He has underlined to his players that they must be ruthless when opportunities arise. Counter-attacks, set pieces and quick transitions after winning possession are likely to be central elements of Belgium’s strategy. “We won’t have 70% of the ball, but we don’t need to,” he noted. “We need to be efficient when we do have it.”
Lukaku’s role will be crucial in this regard. His physical presence, ability to hold up play and finish chances under pressure offer Belgium a direct outlet when Spain push high up the pitch. De Bruyne and the wingers will look to exploit the spaces created when Spain’s full-backs advance, an area where Belgium believe they can hurt their opponents.
Garcia also made it clear that defensive discipline will be non‑negotiable. Tracking Spain’s off‑the‑ball movements, keeping compact lines between defence and midfield, and avoiding cheap turnovers in dangerous zones have been central themes in Belgium’s preparation. “We know they will move us around,” he admitted. “But being moved doesn’t mean being broken. If we stay organised and keep our concentration, we’ll get our chances.”
Inside the Belgian camp, the narrative of being underdogs has become a unifying tool. Players and staff are using the external doubts as motivation rather than as a weight. The message Garcia repeats is simple: outsiders can think what they want; only the belief within the group matters.
“We respect what people say, but we live a different reality from the inside,” he said. “We see the work done every day, the unity in training, the desire to go one step further. That’s why, even if everyone else sees us as already out, we don’t share that view. Our story in this World Cup is not over – and we want to prove it on the pitch, not with words.”
As Belgium prepare to walk out in Los Angeles against an undefeated Spain, Garcia’s stance is clear: they may not be the favourites, but they refuse to accept the role of victims. With their attacking numbers, renewed confidence, De Bruyne back at full strength and a squad that has learned to suffer and survive, Belgium are determined to challenge the narrative that their fate is already sealed.