Belgium Goalkeeper Courtois Exits World Cup Quarterfinal vs. Spain

Belgium’s World Cup campaign faced a significant setback during the quarterfinal match against Spain when starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced to leave the match due to an injury. The incident occurred midway through the second half while the score was tied 1-1.

The Real Madrid goalkeeper received medical attention on the field and briefly attempted to continue following a hydration break. However, the 32-year-old ultimately signaled that he could not play on and was substituted in the 71st minute by 24-year-old Senne Lammens. The substitution marked just the third senior international appearance for Lammens, who entered the match at SoFi Stadium.

The match is being broadcast in the United States on Fox and FS1, properties of Fox Corporation. As the broadcaster of the tournament, Fox Corporation provides extensive coverage of the event across its platforms. In the market, Fox Corporation (FOXA) was trading up 2.51% on the day, with a share price of $54.12. The company holds a market capitalization of approximately $23.46 billion and operates within the Communication Services sector, specifically focusing on entertainment through news and sports content production.

Courtois’s departure adds pressure to Belgium as the tournament shifts to a single-elimination format. The emotional scene on the bench underscored the potential finality of his participation in the 2026 event, regardless of the outcome against Spain.

What to watch

• Updates on the severity of Thibaut Courtois’s injury and its impact on Real Madrid.
• Belgium’s performance in the remainder of the tournament following the unexpected goalkeeper change.
• Viewership ratings for Fox Corporation during the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Source: original release