Portugal and Spain meet in the round of 16 of World Cup 2026, an all-Iberian tie that also pits two generations against each other. Both teams remain unbeaten in North America, and the winner will face a quarter-final against the United States or Belgium in Los Angeles on 10 July (22:00).
How the two sides reached the round of 16
Portugal, second in Group 11, earned its place in the last 16 the hard way, with a comeback against Croatia in Toronto, thanks to a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and a stoppage-time header from Goncalo Ramos.
Spain, after winning Group 8, stepped up a gear by beating Austria 3-0 in Los Angeles. Its fluid football was rewarded with two goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and the first for "La Roja" from Pedro Porro.
Co-hosts of the next World Cup
Both sides are among the hosts of the next World Cup in 2030, together with Morocco and with matches also in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. However, everything is about the here and now, the FIFA website notes.
A clash of generations
The tie raises the question of whether a player not yet 19 can send one of the greatest players in history into international retirement. Arriving in the United States due to an injury, Lamine Yamal is gaining momentum and could cause chaos against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
But CR7, aged 41, sees things differently. "You have been trying to kill me for 23 years," the Portuguese superstar and five-time Ballon d'Or winner told hundreds of journalists at the Dallas stadium on Sunday.
"As I have said before, I will stop when I decide, not when you decide," added the forward, who has scored 146 goals in 232 appearances, two records in men's international football, and is playing in his sixth World Cup.
