Spain vs Belgium: a 40-Year World Cup Rematch
Some fixtures come with their own ghosts. The last time Spain and Belgium met in a World Cup knockout round was the quarterfinal of Mexico 1986 — 1–1 after extra time, and Belgium through on penalties. Forty years later, almost to the week, the draw has produced the rematch: Friday night's quarterfinal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Here's the history each side carries into it, and — because the two countries share tens of thousands of expat families in each direction — how to call Spain and Belgium without your operator turning the celebration into a bill.
La Roja: one star, and hungry for a second
For decades Spain were football's great underachievers — endless talent, and a best World Cup finish of fourth place back in 1950. Then came the golden era: European champions in 2008, world champions in 2010 (Andrés Iniesta's extra-time winner against the Netherlands in Johannesburg), European champions again in 2012. The current generation won Euro 2024 playing some of the most exciting football on the continent, and arrives at this quarterfinal as many people's tournament favourite. The mission is explicit: a second star.
The Red Devils: the best team never to win it?
Belgium's trophy cabinet is emptier, but their World Cup pedigree is real. In 1986 they reached the semifinals — beating Spain along the way — and finished fourth. In 2018 the golden generation of Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku went one better, knocking out Brazil in a legendary quarterfinal and finishing third, Belgium's best World Cup result ever; only eventual champions France stopped them. A country of under 12 million people that spent years ranked No. 1 in the world still hasn't lifted the trophy — which is exactly what makes them dangerous.
How to call Spain: +34
Spain's country code is +34, and Spanish numbers are refreshingly simple: nine digits, dialled the same way from everywhere — no leading zero to drop, no separate area codes. Mobiles start with 6 or 7 (+34 612 34 56 78), landlines with 8 or 9 (+34 810 12 34 56); the first digits of a landline still hint at the city — 91 is Madrid, 93 Barcelona. Live per-minute prices for Spanish mobiles and landlines are on the Spain rates page.
How to call Belgium: +32
Belgium's code is +32. Domestic numbers start with 0, which you drop when calling internationally. A Brussels landline looks like +32 2 234 56 78 (the 2 is the capital's area code; Liège is 4, Charleroi 71), and a mobile like +32 470 12 34 56 — Belgian mobiles start with 4. One number format covers all three language communities, from Antwerp to Liège. Current rates are on the Belgium rates page.
Two countries, one hour zone, one cheap call
Spain and Belgium both run on Central European Summer Time, so the whole calling corridor — Spanish civil servants and engineers in Brussels, Belgian retirees on the Costa Blanca, students in both directions — watches the match at the same late-evening hour, since this World Cup is played across the Atlantic in the United States.
After the final whistle, eFon does the rest: from the app you call any Spanish or Belgian mobile or landline over Wi-Fi or data at a clear per-minute rate — up to 90% cheaper than dialling directly on a mobile-operator plan — and the other side just picks up an ordinary call, no app required. Watching from the stands in America? The eFon travel eSIM covers your data in the USA, and the app keeps the calls home cheap wherever you are. Belgium's neighbours are following this one closely too — many Belgians have family just across the border in the Netherlands.
The other quarterfinals
- France vs Morocco: the World Cup rematch
- Norway vs England: a quarterfinal for history
- Argentina vs Switzerland: holders vs history
Forty years is a long time to wait for revenge — or for a repeat. Either way, call home after the match with eFon. ⚽