Portugal secures Spain clash in World Cup 2026 Round of 16

By Karan Malhotra — 3 July 2026 — 3 min read

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has progressed into its decisive phase, with the field of 48 teams narrowing down to 16 nations for the Round of 16. Each knockout match now carries significant importance, as teams vie for a spot closer to the tournament’s ultimate prize. The recent action has set up several compelling matchups for the next stage of the competition.

On Thursday, Portugal secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Croatia. This win means Portugal will now face neighbours Spain in a highly anticipated fixture. Spain had previously defeated Austria 3-0, setting the stage for this encounter. The Round of 32 has already delivered considerable drama, and with only three matches remaining before the pre-quarterfinal lineup is finalised, the knockout bracket is nearly complete.

Portugal’s Path to the Round of 16

Portugal‘s triumph over Croatia featured a notable performance from Cristiano Ronaldo. He became the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match by converting a second-half penalty. This goal contributed to Portugal‘s 2-1 comeback, securing their place in the last 16. The upcoming match against Spain is generating considerable interest, partly due to speculation that this tournament could mark Ronaldo‘s final appearance at a FIFA World Cup. His sister, Katia Aveiro, has referred to this tournament as the Portugal captain’s “last dance” with the national team, adding emotional weight to the Iberian rivalry.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal fans Credit: bbc.com

Historically, Spain and Portugal have met 41 times, though many of these encounters were friendlies. Their most recent competitive meeting was in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, where Portugal emerged victorious after a penalty shootout, following Ronaldo‘s equaliser. While Spain is considered a slight favourite for the upcoming match, Portugal‘s recent history and experience suggest they could potentially cause an upset.

Upcoming Knockout Fixtures

The Round of 16 is scheduled to commence on Saturday, with several significant matches already confirmed. Canada is set to play against Morocco, while France will face Paraguay. Other confirmed fixtures include Brazil against Norway, and England meeting Mexico as they continue their pursuit of a World Cup title. The host nation, United States, will play Belgium in another high-profile match.

Switzerland will compete against either Colombia or Ghana, depending on the results of the remaining Round of 32 fixtures. The final two spots in the last 16 will be decided after Argentina‘s match against tournament debutants Cabo Verde and Australia‘s encounter with Egypt. The winners of these matches will then play each other for a place in the quarterfinals. The knockout stage is now taking shape, and with no margin for error, every match will determine which nations advance in the competition.

In other news, Julian Nagelsmann, the manager of Germany, addressed his future immediately after his team’s game against Paraguay. He stated that he is “not someone who runs away” and expressed his willingness to continue if the German Football Association (DFB) wishes for him to do so. He acknowledged that public opinion in Germany might not be entirely positive about his continuation but praised the support received from fans in the stadium, despite the team’s elimination.

The confirmed Round of 16 fixtures include Canada vs Morocco on 4 July, Paraguay vs France on 5 July, Brazil vs Norway on 6 July, Mexico vs England on 6 July, Portugal vs Spain on 7 July, and USA vs Belgium on 7 July.