Spain defeats Portugal 1-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals

On July 7, 2026, Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16 of the World Cup. The decisive goal was scored by Mikel Merino in the 90+1st minute following an assist from Ferran Torres. This result eliminates Portugal from the tournament. The match marked the final World Cup appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo, who had previously announced his retirement from the competition. Spain now advances to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the match between the United States and Belgium. Despite low media expectations for the entertainment value of the match, the tactical substitutions made by Spain's head coach De la Fuente were widely credited as the turning point for the result.