Spain have booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after a dramatic 1–0 victory over Portugal, with Mikel Merino scoring a stoppage-time winner to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey and send La Roja into the last eight.
Spain secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Iberian rivals Portugal 1–0 in a tense Round of 16 encounter played at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.
With both teams cancelling each other out for much of the contest, the match appeared destined for extra time before Spain found a dramatic late breakthrough that sealed qualification.
The decisive moment came in the first minute of stoppage time when midfielder Mikel Merino finished off a well-worked Spanish move to beat the Portuguese goalkeeper and spark celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.
Spain dominated possession for long periods, while Portugal relied on quick counter-attacks led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who was making what is widely expected to be his final FIFA World Cup appearance.
Despite creating several promising opportunities, Portugal failed to convert their chances, allowing Spain to punish them with the late winner.
The victory continues Spain’s impressive campaign, with the European giants emerging as one of the tournament favourites following disciplined defensive performances and consistent displays throughout the competition.
For Portugal, the defeat marks the end of another World Cup campaign and potentially brings the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable FIFA World Cup career after representing his country across multiple editions of the tournament.
Spain’s players celebrated the victory after the final whistle as they advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of another Round of 16 fixture.
Portugal’s squad, meanwhile, exited the competition following a spirited performance that ultimately fell short against their long-time European rivals.
The result keeps Spain’s dream of lifting another FIFA World Cup alive while ending Portugal’s campaign in heartbreaking fashion. As the tournament enters the quarter-final stage, Spain will now look to build on their momentum as they continue their pursuit of global football glory.