FIFA World Cup

Round of 16

POR Portugal Portugal - ESP Spain Spain

Portugal Portugal

Spain Spain

90' +1'
M. Merino

Dallas Stadium(70,649 Spectators)

Anthony Taylor

Full-time: Portugal 0-1 Spain

And there is the full-time whistle. Spain are through to the last eight thanks to Merino's late goal. It was a pretty even game, but in the end, Spain probably did just enough to earn the victory.

90'

+ 9

Wide

Neves gets on the end of a free-kick, but his header goes wide.

End of second half

Full-time

90'

+ 8

Over the bar

Conceição chips the ball into the box, and Silva wins the header, but he can only flick the ball just over the bar. That could be that.

90'

+ 7

Substitution

Borja Iglesias

Mikel Oyarzabal

90'

+ 4

Added time

Portugal have about six minutes to preserve their status at this World Cup.

Merino fires Spain ahead

Merino wins a free-kick and takes it quickly. Spain move the ball around neatly before Torres slips the ball through to Merino, who fires home at the near post. That could be the goal that sees Spain through to the last eight.

90'

+ 1

Mikel Merino

GOAL!

0:1

Assist:F. Torres

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

23 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11.18 m

89'

Yellow card

Bernardo Silva

85'

More changes

Portugal bring on Silva and Conceição as Spain turn to Ruiz and Merino.

85'

Substitution

Mikel Merino

Dani Olmo

85'

Substitution

Fabián Ruiz

Pedri

83'

Substitution

Bernardo Silva

Vitinha

83'

Substitution

Francisco Conceição

Pedro Neto

79'

Growing Spanish pressure

Torres fires the ball back across goal from the byline, and Semedo hooks the ball awkwardly behind for a corner.

78'

Great block

Olmo is found neatly in the box, and he drives a shot towards the far corner that Dias has to get in the way of.

77'

Good chasing

The sub Torres hunts down a lofted pass from Pedri, but he can only hook the ball into the side-netting from an awkward angle.

76'

Not far off

Vitinha tries his luck, and the ball deflects awkwardly into the area. Fernandes then holds off Cucurella and lashes a shot towards the near post, but the ball bounces off the side-netting.

75'

Substitution

Ferrán Torres

Álex Baena

73'

Easy enough for Simon

Yamal wins a free-kick on the wing and then shoots himself, but his effort is tipped over by Simon.

72'

Back underway

The ball is moving again, and Portugal now have Leão and Dalot on the pitch.

71'

Substitution

Rafael Leão

João Félix

71'

Substitution

Diogo Dalot

João Cancelo

70'

Hydration break

Another stop in play for a drinks break.

66'

Nobody in the middle

Not for the first time, Spain get to the byline and cross only for a good delivery to be met by nobody in the box. This time it is Porro's cross into a perfect area that no Spanish players are ready to get on the end of.

65'

An easy stop

Baena spins and shoots on the edge of the box, but the shot has too little power to trouble Costa.

Still no way through

It remains level as we approach the second half hydration break.

62'

Another corner

Yamal's shot is also deflected behind for a corner, but Costa is able to claim the second set-piece in the air.

61'

Over

Spain win the ball high up the pitch, and Olmo feeds Pedri in a central position. He shoots from the edge of the box, but Veiga gets across to deflect the shot behind for a corner.

59'

Good thinking

Neves and Félix combine neatly on the edge of the Spain box before the latter chips a cross to the backpost, looking for Ronaldo, but he can't cause any problems with his shot on the stretch.

56'

And there is the change

Portugal's superstar left-back is replaced by Semedo, who is normally a right-back by trade.

56'

Substitution

Nélson Semedo

Nuno Mendes

54'

This doesn't look good

Mendes has seemingly picked up a knock in that aforementioned duel with Yamal, and now he may well need to leave the pitch.

52'

More like it from Yamal

The Barcelona wonderkid has been quiet so far, but this time he shows his talent by skinning Mendes and sending in a low cross that Portugal clear.

51'

Could have been more

Neto suddenly has acres of space on the right, but he doesn't use it effectively enough, and his low cross into the box fails to find a teammate.

46'

Back underway

The ball is moving once again in this clash between two European giants.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Portugal 0-0 Spain

An even game reaches the break level. Both sides have had their moments, but Oyarzabal certainly had the best chance when he fired wide when through on goal. It's been a game of small mistakes so far, but as of yet, neither side has been able to make the most of their opportunities.

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Added time

There will be six extra minutes before the break.

45'

Way over

Olmo feeds Oyarzabal in the box, but he can't quite work space to shoot. The ball then drops to Rodri, who drives a shot a long way over the bar.

41'

Off the bar!

Félix and Mendes work a corner short, leading to Mendes having space to shoot from the corner of the box. He drives a powerful shot towards the far corner that Porro gets his head to, deflecting the ball up and onto the crossbar. That's the closest we have come to a goal so far.

37'

Portugal go close

A cross from Neto is met by Félix at the back post, and he tries to head the ball back across goal, but Simon is there to make an important stop. Ronaldo then does well to flick the ball goalwards once more, and Simon is there again to make the save.

34'

Straight across goal

Yamal slips the ball to Olmo in the box, and he fires a low cross right along the six-yard box, but there is nobody there to turn the ball home for the opener.

31'

Dangerous

Pedri's well-whipped cross leaves Costa flailing slightly, and the goalkeeper ends up parrying the ball straight to Olmo in the box. He gets his head to the ball, but he can only direct his effort narrowly wide.

28'

Almost

A ball through the middle almost sets Yamal through, but Veiga slides in to make the interception.

27'

Back underway

The ball is moving once again in this round-of-16 tie.

24'

Hydration break

The players take a moment to rehydrate before we continue.

23'

Plenty of shots

Spain have looked more likely to score so far.

Goal attempts

2off target

1on target

2off target

3on target

The best chance so far

The opening 20 minutes have been entertaining, but the best chance certainly fell to Oyarzabal, who couldn't hit the target when through on goal.

16'

Double save

Yamal finds himself in space for the first time and dips inside on the edge of the box before whipping a curling shot towards the far corner that Costa has to parry. The ball then drops to Baena, who hits an effort towards the opposite post, and Costa reacts superbly once more to tip the ball away.

14'

Well over

Baena has a pop, but his shot flies well over the crossbar.

12'

Ronaldo denied

Fernandes wins the ball high up the pitch and feeds Ronaldo on the edge of the box. He does a neat stepover to create space before hammering a shot at goal that Simon has to parry behind for a corner.

A massive chance

Oyarzabal is fed through the middle by Olmo, and he only has Costa to beat. He has time to set himself, but he hooks his left-footed effort wide of the far post with the goal gaping.

Powerful effort

Mendes whips a long ball across the pitch, and then Cancelo has space to drive forward. He tries his luck from the edge of the box and catches his shot well, but there is just too much height on the effort.

First shot

Mikel Oyarzabal pinches the ball high up the pitch and bursts towards goal before hitting a low drive that Costa saves with relative ease. Moments later, Yamal sends in a low cross that could have been dangerous.

We're underway

The ball is moving in this international derby. Which nation can start the fastest?

Kick-off!

Players on the pitch

The players are out on the pitch as the respective national anthems play. Not long now until we get underway.

Out warming up

Both sets of players are on the pitch doing their final preparations for this one.

More on that Portugal team

They make just one change to the side that beat Croatia, with João Félix (pictured) coming in for Rafael Leão.

More on that Spain team

They remain unchanged from their 3-0 win over Austria in the previous round.

Starting line-up: Portugal

Portugal subs

Sá, R. Silva, Semedo, Araújo, Dalot, Inácio, Costa, Nunes, B. Silva, Neves, Ramos, Trincão, Leão, Guedes, Conceição

Starting line-up: Spain

Spain subs

Raya, J. García, Pubill, Grimaldo, E. García, Llorente, Merino, Ruiz, Gavi, Zubimendi, Torres, Pino, Williams, Muñoz, Iglesias

Calm before the storm

The Dallas Stadium will be tonight's arena.

Impenetrable

Spain aren't just impressive on the ball, as they're also the only side yet to concede a goal at the tournament.

Running the show

Spain have completed the third most passes at the tournament so far (2834) having played a game less than France (2872) and Morocco (3126) above them. Rodri (pictured) has been central to that figure being so high, as he leads the individual leaderboard with 435 completed passes.

Ronaldo's last dance?

"I'll quiet when I want, not when you want," said a defiant Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of this big round of 16 tie, but the 41-year-old did confirm this this World Cup - his record equalling sixth - will be his last. So will Dallas be where the curtain comes down? "Hopefully tomorrow isn't my last game," the Portugal captain added.

Head-to-head record

Spain have won 18 of their 41 meetings with Portugal, who have triumphed on only seven occasions. The teams’ most recent encounter came in the final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, which Portugal won on penalties following a 2-2 draw. The nations played out another thriller in the FIFA World Cup 2018 group stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick earning A Seleção a 3-3 draw.

How they got here: Spain

Spain are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal at this summer’s tournament. The 2010 winners have looked unstoppable since being held to a goalless draw by minnows Cabo Verde in their opening game, beating Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0) in Group H before a one-sided 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32.

How they got here: Portugal

After drawing 1-1 with DR Congo and beating Uzbekistan 5-0, Roberto Martínez’s team played out a goalless draw with Colombia in their third Group K encounter to finish second behind the South Americans. They then beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic round-of-32 tie, with Zlatko Dalić's team having a late goal disallowed by the video assistant referee.

Welcome along!

Follow all of the action as Portugal take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16, kicking off at 9pm CEST on Monday, 6 July in Dallas.