Belgium threaten to resurrect Spain’s quarterfinal curse
The human mind is blessed with the ability to discern patterns from everything – a key survival instinct that helped our ancestors anticipate danger and help locate resources and shelter.
This ability forces us to spot patterns in unrelated events, link incidents years apart, and see connections that harden into beliefs.
For example, when Spain lost the quarterfinal at the 1934 World Cup, it was just an isolated defeat – nothing more.
But 52 years later, when Spain again lost in their second-ever World Cup quarterfinal in 1986, a connection was spotted, a pattern was drawn and a curse was born.
In 1934, La Roja had made it to the quarterfinals in their very first appearance in the World Cup.
They faced host Italy, fought for 120 minutes, and drew the match 1-1. As there were no penalty shootouts back then, the match was replayed on a later day, and this time the Azzurri won 1-0.
The Spaniards had to wait for over half-a-century before returning to the last-8 at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
La Roja were flying high, having squashed Denmark 5-1 in the Round of 16, thanks to a four-goal haul from Emilio Butragueno.
They came into the quarterfinals as favourites but failed to win the match inside 120 minutes, as the scoreline remained 1-1 – an ominous coincidence.
The fate of the match was decided through penalties. Nine out of the 10 penalty-takers converted, only one failed, and unfortunately for Spain, it was their striker, Eloy Olaya.
Thus began the ‘quarterfinal curse’ of Spain, a ghost that haunted them for the next 24 years.
And the team that ‘cursed’ them were Belgium – the same side they will face in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal in Los Angeles in the early hours of Saturday (Bangladesh Time).
The legend of the curse grew stronger after the Spaniards lost to Italy at the same stage at the 1994 edition in the US.
More heartbreak followed in 2002 against hosts South Korea, a match that ended goalless after 120 minutes, with two Spanish goals getting controversially disallowed, and the Asian side prevailing 5-3 in the penalty shootout.
Spain finally broke the curse in South Africa in the 2010 World Cup, when they beat Paraguay 1-0 in the quarterfinal thanks to a David Villa goal in the 83rd minute.
With that win, Spain exorcised a ghost that had been haunting them for too long and once unburdened from the curse, the Spanish side tiki-taka’d their way into a maiden World Cup title.
After winning the World Cup, Spain failed to make it to the knockouts in the next three editions – an appalling run they have ended in 2026.
Spain’s young brigade led by the brilliant Lamine Yamal are in prime position to set up a blockbuster semifinal against France.
Standing in their way are Belgium – the very team that ‘cursed’ them 40 years ago.
Spain, who are yet to concede in the tournament and are considered one of the favourites to go all the way, are the clear favourites heading into the match.
They will face a post-golden generation Belgium side, which has arguably already punched above their weight in the tournament.
The two sides are familiar opponents in the international circuit, having faced off 22 times in total with Spain winning 12 times, Belgium five and the remaining five ending in stalemates.
At the World Cups, the record is 50-50 with Spain taking a revenge of sorts for the 1986 defeat in the 1990 edition, beating the Belgians 2-1 in the group-stage.
However, Belgium have the edge over Spain in major events, having beaten them in their only ever meeting at the UEFA Euro Championship in 1980, winning 2-1.
On paper, Spain are the more skilled side and should overcome an aging Belgium team.
Still, as Spain and Belgium get ready to face off, the ghosts Andres Iniesta and Co. had buried in 2010 are lurking out of their grave. The only way Spain can kill them off for good, is by beating Belgium in a knockout fixture for the first time in their history.