Belgium Faces Spain Without Captain Tielemans in World Cup Quarterfinal

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The blow landed before a ball was even kicked.

Belgium’s World Cup quarterfinal against Spain at SoFi Stadium lost its captain in the warmup, as Youri Tielemans was dramatically withdrawn from Rudi Garcia’s starting XI with a late injury.

The Aston Villa midfielder had been named in the lineup and went through the early stages of preparation with his teammates, only to suffer an undisclosed problem shortly before kickoff. As the teams emerged from the tunnel, Tielemans was nowhere near the center circle. Hans Vanaken stood in his place.

For Belgium, it was a jolt. Tielemans has been the heartbeat of their tournament.

He played every match in the group stage, rarely looking tired, often looking decisive. His defining moment came in the round of 32, when he scored twice in a wild 3-2 comeback win over Senegal, dragging Belgium through a tie that threatened to unravel. He also started in the round-of-16 victory that knocked out co-hosts the United States, another night where his composure under pressure told.

The only rest he’d had all tournament? Six inconsequential minutes at the end of a 5-1 win over New Zealand in the group stage. From there, he had been ever-present. Until now.

So Garcia turned to Vanaken, a different profile but hardly an untested understudy. The midfielder came off the bench and scored in Belgium’s emphatic 4-1 dismantling of the U.S. on Monday, a performance that had already nudged him closer to the manager’s thoughts. He had initially been set to replace the injured Amadou Onana, who has been ruled out of the World Cup with a torn knee ligament.

Now Vanaken’s role grew even larger, stepping straight into a quarterfinal from the first whistle, with Spain on the other side and France waiting in the semifinal in Arlington, Texas, for whoever survived.

Belgium’s injury list had already been a quiet concern. Zeno Debast, the promising defender, has not played a minute at this World Cup because of a leg injury, with his club Sporting CP keeping him out of action. Onana’s absence stripped energy from midfield. Tielemans’ late withdrawal cut into its brains and goals.

Garcia did not only have bad news to deliver, though. He also reshaped his attack, restoring Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku to the starting XI after both began on the bench against the U.S. Their return signaled intent: even without their captain, Belgium would not retreat into caution.

So the stakes rose a little higher. No Tielemans, no Onana, no Debast — but a place in the last four of the World Cup still on the line, and Spain standing in the way of a date with France.