The FIFA World Cup 2026 1/8 final followed with two more exciting knockout matches. Spain ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of lifting the World Cup after beating Portugal 1-0, while Belgium produced a dominant display to beat hosts USA 4-1.
Merino Hero Spain as Edge Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal They went into the match hoping to keep their World Cup dreams alive, but Spain proved to be another tough obstacle in a tense Iberian derby.
In the opening 45 minutes, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances, canceling each other out with organized defensive displays.
The offensive intensity picked up after the break, but neither team could find a breakthrough for much of the second half. Just when extra time seemed inevitable, Spain finally created the decisive moment.
Substitute Mikel Merino broke through Portugal’s defense and calmly beat Diogo Costa to score the late winner.
Portugal pushed forward to score an equaliser, but Roberto Martinez’s side couldn’t break through Spain’s solid defence.
As a result, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s World Cup journey has come to a heartbreaking end, with the 2026 edition expected to be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. Meanwhile, Spain has advanced to the quarter-finals, where they will face Belgium.
Belgium ended USA’s World Cup run
Elsewhere, the third host nation also exited the tournament as Belgium comfortably beat the USA 4-1.
The United States became the latest host nation to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Canada and Mexico were previously eliminated in the round of 16.
Folarin Balogu’s return from suspension failed to inspire Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who produced their weakest performance of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the tactical decision to leave Belgium Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku from the bench was excellent. The Red Devils controlled the game and took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Charles De Ketelaere Goalkeeper Matt Freese starred with two goals before a costly mistake allowed Hans Vanake to extend Belgium’s lead. Romelu Lukaku then completed a convincing win with a key minute goal.
Belgium now join Morocco, France, Norway, England and Spain in the quarter-finals. Next up, Rudi Garcia’s men face Spain in what promises to be one of the best encounters of the last eight.
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Results (Updated)
| History | Encounter | The result | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Morocco v. Canada | 3-0 | ⚽ Azzedine Ounahi (50′, 82′), Brahim Diaz (90′) |
| July 4 | France vs Paraguay | 1-0 | ⚽ Kylian Mbappe (70′ pen.) |
| July 5 | Norway vs Brazil | 2-1 | ⚽ Erling Haaland (79′, 90′) | Neymar (90+10′ nice) |
| July 5 | Mexico vs England | 2-3 | ⚽ Jude Bellingham (36′, 38′), Harry Kane (60′ pen.) | Julian Quinones (42′), Raul Jimenez (69′ pen.) |
| July 6 | Spain vs Portugal | 1-0 | ⚽ Mikel Merino (90+1′) |
| July 6 | Belgium vs USA | 4-1 | ⚽ Charles De Ketelaere (9′, 33′), Hans Vanaken (57′), Romelu Lukaku (90+3′) | Malik Tillman (31′) |
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter Finals (Confirmed So Far)
| Date (Local) | Armature | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 9 | France vs Morocco | Boston Stadium, Boston |
| Friday, July 10 | Spain vs Belgium | Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Saturday, July 11 | Norway v England | Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens |