Spain beat Portugal 1-0 to reach World Cup quarter-finals
- On Monday, July 6, 2026, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 at Dallas Stadium in the World Cup round-of-16. Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 91st minute, securing Spain's advancement to the quarter-finals.
- The game was a tense 'war of attrition' where both teams struggled to convert high-quality chances. Spain maintained a strong defensive record, limiting Portugal's space and keeping the score level until late in stoppage time.
- A Rodri pass to Ferran Torres unlocked the defense, allowing Merino to strike unmarked. Portugal's Nuno Mendes hit the crossbar, while Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva narrowly missed, underscoring the match's decisive moment.
- The loss ended the final World Cup campaign for Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, who appeared emotional after the match. Portuguese manager Roberto Martinez kept the superstar on the pitch despite his declining returns in recent years.
- Spain now advances to the quarter-finals to face the winner of the USA-Belgium match. Manager Luis de la Fuente's side aims to maintain momentum as they prepare for their next high-stakes challenge.
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220 Articles
Porro sent "a hug to the sportsmen", Merino shouted for the saint of his city, Luis de la Fuente threw a game "very complete" and Rodri still took lessons "for the next match".
A solo goal by Mikel Merino made by Ferrán, the last two to enter the field, decants the victory of the Spanish team in a highly contested match that puts an end to the history of Cristiano Ronaldo and his six World CupsSpain finds itself in front of Austria and waits for Portugal Spain-Portugal. Again. And in eighth round, as in Cape Town in 2010 when Villa scored seven minutes from the final the only goal, three matches before raising the Cup …
Spain sneaks through to the quarter-finals without conceding a single goal in the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo leaves his final World Cup with the question hanging over him: Should he have even played?
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The42Late Merino winner fires Spain past Portugal and into World Cup quarter-finals
The decisive goal came in the 91st minute.
Spain vs Portugal FIFA World Cup match result: Mikel Merino strikes late As Spain edge past Portugal and Ronaldo to reach WC quarter-finals
Spain edged past Portugal with a crucial one-nil win in a gripping World Cup encounter. Mikel Merino struck the decisive goal in stoppage time, leaving Portugal eliminated and signaling the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious World Cup journey. Unai Simon's outstanding performance as goalkeeper kept Spain's net intact, propelling La Roja into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.
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