Spain knocks out Portugal to advance to World Cup quarterfinals

Spain knocks out Portugal to advance to World Cup quarterfinals

Spain advanced to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals on Monday, July 6, 2026, after defeating Portugal 1-0 in a Round of 16 match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. A stoppage-time goal from Mikel Merino secured the victory, ending the World Cup career of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The match remained scoreless through the first half and deep into the second. Spain controlled much of the play, leading in possession, shots, and expected goals. Portugal’s goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept the match level with several saves, including stopping efforts from Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena.

Portugal created significant opportunities of their own. Nuno Mendes hit the underside of the crossbar with a left-footed shot, and Cristiano Ronaldo nearly scored in the first half. According to the AP, Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón made a leaping stop to deny Ronaldo after a header by João Félix rebounded off Simón’s shoulder.

The deadlock broke in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Following a pass from Rodri, Merino slid past the defense into the left side of the box to score the game's only goal. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente told TV Espana that the players who came off the bench provided the energy necessary to finish the game.

The defeat marks the end of an era for Ronaldo, 41, who had confirmed before the match that this would be his final World Cup. He became the first player to score in six different World Cups, totaling 11 goals in the tournament and 146 international goals in his career. His deepest run in the competition remains a semifinal appearance in 2006.

"Whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano will leave with a clear conscience,"

Cristiano Ronaldo, player, via nbcnews.com

Following the match, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez announced his departure from the post after three and a half years. Martinez stated that because he did not win the World Cup, it did not make sense to continue.

"It's the end of the cycle. It's important to have a new voice, a new leader,"

Roberto Martinez, head coach, via nytimes.com

The loss highlights a continuing struggle for Portugal in the knockout stages; they have been eliminated from six of their last eight World Cup knockout matches. Analysis from The Athletic noted that Portugal failed to register a single shot on target in the second half of the match.

Spain enters the quarterfinals with a historic defensive record. According to The Athletic, Spain is the first team in World Cup history to keep a clean sheet in six consecutive matches, having gone 10 hours and nine minutes without conceding a goal during the competition.

Spain will now face the winner of the match between the United States and Belgium in a quarterfinal to be held in Los Angeles. That match has been surrounded by controversy regarding the eligibility of U.S. Striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had received a red card in a previous match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but FIFA's independent disciplinary committee suspended his one-game ban.

The decision drew scrutiny after President Donald Trump confirmed he asked FIFA to review the suspension. While the FIFA disciplinary committee stated its members fulfill independence criteria to ensure impartiality, the Royal Belgian Football Association attempted to appeal the decision. FIFA announced that the appeal was inadmissible because the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings.

Elsewhere in the tournament, Norway advanced to the quarterfinals after a 2-1 victory over Brazil, fueled by a brace from Erling Haaland. The result marked Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990.