Spain advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after clinching a 1-0 victory over Portugal in their Round of 16 clash at the Dallas Stadium. A dramatic late goal from Mikel Merino turned out to be the ultimate decider, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s side shocked.
The high-stakes match seemed destined for extra time until Merino broke the deadlock in the first minute of second-half injury time. Capitalizing on a pass from Ferran Torres, Merino found the back of the net to seal a historic victory for the Spanish side.
This defeat marks an early exit for Portugal under the captaincy of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who failed to replicate their quarterfinal run from the 2022 World Cup. Portugal had previously secured their spot in the Round of 16 after defeating Croatia in the Round of 32.
For Spain, the victory ends a 16-year wait, marking their first return to the World Cup quarterfinals since they lifted the trophy in 2010. In the years following their championship win, Spain had faced a string of disappointments, exiting in the group stage in 2014 and failing to advance past the Round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022.
With this momentum-boosting win, Spain now await their next challenge. They are scheduled to face the winner of the upcoming match between the United States and Belgium for a coveted spot in the semifinals.
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