DALLAS / SEATTLE, July 7 — Two very different Round of 16 matches on Monday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered the tournament’s clearest inflection point so far: Spain slipped past Portugal 1-0 with a stoppage-time goal from substitute Mikel Merino, while Belgium hammered co-hosts United States 4-1, ensuring that none of the three tournament hosts — the United States, Canada or Mexico — will reach the quarter-finals.
The two winners will meet each other in the last eight, setting up a Spain-Belgium tie that will test the tournament’s most miserly defence against a Belgian side that has just rediscovered its scoring touch.
Dallas: Iberian derby settled in the 91st minute
At Dallas’ AT&T Stadium, Spain and Portugal produced the tournament’s most-anticipated all-European tie so far and, for 90 minutes, one of its most tightly balanced. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo — who confirmed at the pre-match press conference that the 2026 tournament would be his last World Cup — spent large stretches of the first half isolated up front, while Spain steadily accumulated chances.
Mikel Oyarzabal was the first to threaten, missing the target on a ninth-minute one-on-one after a slide-rule pass from Dani Olmo. Ronaldo replied at the other end with a low drive from a tight angle that Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón smothered, and Portugal keeper Diogo Costa produced two saves in quick succession to deny Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena. Portugal’s best opening arrived in the 41st minute, when Nuno Mendes struck a long-range shot from a training-ground corner that deflected off a Spanish defender and cannoned back off the crossbar.
The half-time whistle came with the score at 0-0. Spain finished the first period with the more sustained possession game and eight shots to Portugal’s five, but a decisive breakthrough remained elusive.
Portugal’s plans were disrupted early in the second half when Nuno Mendes limped off in the 56th minute after a duel with Yamal, replaced by Nélson Semedo. Manager Roberto Martínez went on to introduce João Félix, Rafael Leão, Bruno Fernandes and other attackers as the match wore on. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente responded in kind, sending on Ferran Torres in the 75th minute and Merino in the 85th.
The decisive move arrived in the first minute of stoppage time. Spain played a free-kick quickly on the edge of the Portuguese half; Ferran Torres slid a low pass through the defensive line, and Merino, running from midfield, took one touch before finishing across Costa into the far corner. Referees added seven minutes of stoppage time in total, but Portugal, chasing an equaliser, were unable to threaten.
Spain finished the match with the more prolific attacking output — 15 shots to Portugal’s 10 and 6 on target to 2 — and secured their first World Cup quarter-final since their triumph in South Africa in 2010. The result also extended a remarkable defensive streak: Spain have kept clean sheets in six consecutive World Cup fixtures, a new tournament record.
Portugal captain Ronaldo, competing in his sixth World Cup, ends his career at the finals with 27 appearances, 11 goals and two assists across the six editions. Immediately after the match, Martínez confirmed that he would step down as Portugal head coach.
Seattle: Belgium put the last host out of its misery
Monday’s later kick-off, held at Seattle’s Lumen Field, followed a very different script. Belgium struck early through midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, who arrived at the near post to convert a low cross in the ninth minute. United States midfielder Malik Tillman levelled with a direct free-kick in the 31st, only for De Ketelaere to head in his second at the back post two minutes later.
Belgium put the tie beyond reach after the interval. In the 57th minute, a long ball into the American penalty area was mis-read by the United States goalkeeper, whose attempted clearance fell to a Belgian midfielder who slid the ball into an empty net. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth in stoppage time to complete the scoring at 4-1.
The match was played against a backdrop of controversy over the participation of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Balogun had been sent off in the 64th minute of the American team’s 2-0 Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. On July 5, however, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that his one-match suspension would be deferred by one year. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed publicly that he raised the case with FIFA president Gianni Infantino by telephone. The Belgian Football Association filed an appeal on July 6; hours before kick-off, FIFA’s Appeal Committee ruled that the federation lacked standing to challenge the decision.
Combined with Canada’s earlier exit and Mexico’s group-stage departure, Monday’s result means every co-host has been eliminated before the quarter-finals for the first time since the tournament adopted a multi-nation hosting format.
Bracket takes shape
With Monday’s results, six teams have booked places in the last eight: Morocco, France, Norway, England, Spain and Belgium. Spain will face Belgium in the quarter-finals. The remaining Round of 16 fixtures — including Argentina against Egypt, which kicks off in Mexico City later today (Tuesday) — will complete the bracket before the tournament heads into its final week and a half.
