Spain 1–0: Portugal vs Spain — World Cup 2026 Report

Spain progressed to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating Portugal 1-0 in the Round of 16 at AT&T Stadium. The critical moment of the match came in the 90th minute when Mikel Merino scored the sole goal, propelling Spain into the next round of the tournament.

In a tightly contested match, both teams struggled to convert their chances into goals until late in the second half. Portugal made several substitutions in an attempt to find an equalizer, bringing on players such as Joao Felix and J. Cancelo in the 71st minute. However, they were unable to break through Spain's defense.

Spain also made crucial changes, including the introduction of Alex Baena in the 75th minute. As the match progressed, tensions rose, leading to multiple cards being issued. Bernardo Silva and Rafael Veiga received yellow cards for Portugal, while Ferran Torres was cautioned for Spain in the dying moments of the match.

With this victory, Spain will face the winner of the match between Brazil and Netherlands in the quarterfinals, while Portugal is eliminated from the tournament. This result underlines the competitive nature of the knockout stages in the World Cup, where every goal can be decisive.