The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 continued with two more exciting knockout matches. Spain ended Cristiano Ronaldo’s dream of lifting the World Cup after edging Portugal 1-0, while Belgium produced a dominant display to defeat co-hosts the United States 4-1.
Merino the Hero as Spain Edge Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal entered the match hoping to keep their World Cup dream alive, but Spain proved to be another difficult obstacle in an intense Iberian derby.
Both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities during the opening 45 minutes, with their organized defensive displays cancelling each other out.
After the break, the attacking intensity increased, yet neither team could find the breakthrough for much of the second half. Just when extra time looked inevitable, Spain finally produced the decisive moment.
Substitute Mikel Merino broke through Portugal’s defence before calmly beating Diogo Costa to score the winning goal late in the match.
Portugal pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Roberto Martínez’s side could not find a way past Spain’s resilient defence.
As a result, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s World Cup journey came to a heartbreaking end, with the 2026 edition expected to be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage. Meanwhile, Spain progressed to the quarter-finals, where they will meet Belgium.
Belgium End USA’s World Cup Run
Elsewhere, the third co-host nation also exited the tournament as Belgium comfortably defeated the United States 4-1.
After Canada and Mexico were eliminated earlier in the Round of 16, the USA became the final host nation to bow out of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The return of Folarin Balogun from suspension failed to inspire Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who produced arguably their poorest performance of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s tactical decision to leave Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku on the bench paid off brilliantly. The Red Devils controlled the game and deservedly took a 2-1 lead into half-time.
Charles De Ketelaere starred with two goals before a costly mistake from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to extend Belgium’s advantage. Romelu Lukaku then completed the convincing victory with a stoppage-time goal.
Belgium now join Morocco, France, Norway, England, and Spain in the quarter-finals. Up next, Rudi Garcia’s men face Spain in what promises to be one of the standout matches of the last eight.
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Results (Updated)
| Date | Match | Result | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July | Morocco vs Canada | 3-0 | ⚽ Azzedine Ounahi (50′, 82′), Brahim Díaz (90′) |
| 4 July | France vs Paraguay | 1-0 | ⚽ Kylian Mbappé (70′ pen.) |
| 5 July | Norway vs Brazil | 2-1 | ⚽ Erling Haaland (79′, 90′) | Neymar (90+10′ pen.) |
| 5 July | Mexico vs England | 2-3 | ⚽ Jude Bellingham (36′, 38′), Harry Kane (60′ pen.) | Julián Quiñones (42′), Raúl Jiménez (69′ pen.) |
| 6 July | Spain vs Portugal | 1-0 | ⚽ Mikel Merino (90+1′) |
| 6 July | Belgium vs United States | 4-1 | ⚽ Charles De Ketelaere (9′, 33′), Hans Vanaken (57′), Romelu Lukaku (90+3′) | Malik Tillman (31′) |
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-final Fixtures (Confirmed So Far)
| Date (Local) | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 9 | France vs Morocco | Boston Stadium, Boston |
| Friday, July 10 | Spain vs Belgium | Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Saturday, July 11 | Norway vs England | Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens |
