Spain scraped a 1-0 victory over neighbours Portugal in Dallas to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, with Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time finish the decisive moment. The win sets Spain up to face the winners of the USA vs Belgium tie.
The match failed to deliver the glamour many had expected. Spain dominated possession and defended superbly, but the breakthrough did not come until deep into added time when substitute Merino collected a neat pass from Ferran Torres and slotted low past Diogo Costa.
Merino’s composed finish was the match’s only clear moment of quality among a glittering cast of stars who largely underwhelmed. Spain’s defensive organisation proved the difference: they became the first team in World Cup history to record six successive clean sheets and remain unbeaten without conceding a goal at this tournament.
For Portugal the defeat was doubly painful. Cristiano Ronaldo had announced before the tournament that this would be his final World Cup, and there was no heroic farewell. The Portugal captain was emotional at full-time as his international career came to an end without the fairytale finish he might have hoped for.
Ronaldo was the only Portuguese player to register a shot on target in the game, a stat that underlined his team’s struggles to test Spain’s goalkeeper. Key opportunities fell to both sides at times, but neither produced a clinical edge until the dying moments.
Luis de la Fuente’s Spain will return to the quarter-finals for the first time since their 2010 triumph in South Africa, while Portugal depart the tournament.
A brief timeline of the key moments:
– 3′: Mikel Oyarzabal forces a solid save from Diogo Costa, the first effort on target.
– 8′: Oyarzabal misses a gilt-edged chance, shooting wide from close range.
– 11′: Ronaldo appeals for a penalty after going down in the box; VAR checks and nothing is awarded.
– 16′: Diogo Costa makes a double save to deny Lamine Yamal and Mario Baena.
– 37′: Ronaldo’s glancing header from a João Félix delivery is saved by Unai Simón.
– 41′: Nuno Mendes rattles the crossbar via Pedro Porro’s head.
– 76′: Bruno Fernandes hits the side-netting after a promising Portugal move.
– 90+1′: GOAL — Merino is played in by Ferran Torres and finishes low inside the post.
One more tournament-wide note: there have now been 10 last-minute winners (90th or 120th minute) at the 2026 World Cup, the most in a single edition of the competition.
Spain’s next opponent will be decided when the United States and Belgium conclude their last-16 tie. Portugal leave with the memory of Ronaldo’s illustrious career and the disappointment of an exit on his final World Cup night.