Spain knock out Portugal and reach the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals

The Spanish national team secured its place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup this Monday by beating Portugal 1-0 in an Iberian clash played at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, settled by a Mikel Merino goal in the 91st minute of stoppage time.

The round-of-16 match was evenly balanced for almost the entire contest against a Portugal side that reached the tie after overcoming Croatia in the previous round. Roberto Martínez's side held firm until the closing stages, when Merino, connecting with a cross into the box, beat the Portuguese keeper and sparked jubilation among the Spanish fans.

With this victory, Spain maintain a flawless run in the World Cup: top of Group H after a goalless draw with Cape Verde, a 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia and a 1-0 win over Uruguay, followed by a comprehensive 3-0 against Austria in the round of 32. The national side will now face Belgium in the quarter-finals, after the United States fell to the Belgians.

The match, refereed by England's Anthony Taylor, was played in front of 70,649 spectators at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, one of the most iconic venues of this World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Photo: Biso (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY 4.0 license — Spain national team, 4 September 2025.

Source: FIFA and Wikipedia (2026 FIFA World Cup).