Spain benches Pedri as La Roja take on Belgium in World Cup 2026 quarter-final

Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente announced a largely unchanged lineup for the World Cup 2026 quarter‑final against Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, but moved Pedri to the bench. Fabian Ruiz started alongside Rodri in midfield, with Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal in attack. The decision follows Pedri’s mixed performances, including a subdued display against Portugal, prompting a tactical change for the decisive match.

De la Fuente praised Pedri’s reliability, saying he sets a good tone even when not at his peak, and highlighted the potential of fellow Barcelona players Lamine Yamal and Gavi. Pedri, in a recent interview, affirmed Spain’s status as favorites, expressed confidence in the squad’s unity, and accepted the criticism of his previous game, vowing to improve. He described his role as helping the team and emphasized the collective goal of advancing to the semi‑finals.