Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after Mikel Merino’s dramatic stoppage-time winner secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Iberian rivals Portugal at Dallas Stadium.
Luis de la Fuente’s side showed resilience and patience throughout a tightly contested Round of 16 clash before substitute Merino struck deep into added time to send La Roja into the last eight, where they will face the winner of the USA versus Belgium encounter in Los Angeles.
The first half produced plenty of attacking intent but few clear-cut chances as both sides cancelled each other out.
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Spain came closest to breaking the deadlock when Dani Olmo released Mikel Oyarzabal with a perfectly weighted pass, but the forward dragged his effort wide of the post.
Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa then produced an outstanding save to deny Alex Baena, brilliantly tipping the midfielder’s curling effort around the upright.
Portugal also threatened through veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo, while Nuno Mendes came agonisingly close when his deflected strike crashed against the crossbar.
The intensity remained high after the restart, but both teams adopted a more cautious approach as the match appeared destined for extra time.
However, Spain found the breakthrough in stoppage time through two impactful substitutes.
Ferran Torres delivered a perfectly timed pass into the path of Mikel Merino, who calmly fired a powerful low finish beyond Diogo Costa to spark wild celebrations among the Spanish players and supporters.
The victory extends Spain’s impressive FIFA World Cup campaign and keeps alive their dream of lifting another world title.
The defeat also marked what is expected to be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
Before the match, the 41-year-old confirmed that the tournament would be his last on football’s biggest stage.
Ronaldo leaves the World Cup with a remarkable legacy, having scored 11 goals in 27 appearances while becoming the first player in history to score in six different FIFA World Cup editions.
Although Portugal’s campaign ended in heartbreak, Ronaldo’s extraordinary achievements will remain among the defining chapters in World Cup history.
Spain will now shift their attention to a quarter-final showdown in Los Angeles as they continue their pursuit of FIFA World Cup 2026 glory.