What was the final score of Portugal vs Spain?

Spain won 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Mikel Merino scoring the only goal in the first minute of stoppage time.

Who scored the winner for Spain?

Mikel Merino, who turned in Ferran Torres's pass at the near post in the first minute of added time.

Was this Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup match?

Yes. Ronaldo had confirmed before the tournament that this would be his final World Cup, and Portugal's round-of-16 elimination ends his World Cup career.

Who do Spain play in the quarter-final?

Spain face Belgium on Friday 10 July at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (19:00 UTC). Belgium beat the United States 4-1 in their round-of-16 tie.

Where was the match played?

At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16.

Portugal 0-1 Spain — Match Report

Spain are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after Mikel Merino’s goal in the first minute of stoppage time settled a taut round-of-16 meeting with Portugal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The 1-0 defeat ends Portugal’s tournament — and with it Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career, in what he had said beforehand would be his final World Cup.

How the goal went in

For ninety minutes this was a knockout tie played on a knife edge, and it took until stoppage time to produce a goal. Spain carried the greater share of the chances: Diogo Costa produced a brilliant double save in the 16th minute to keep out efforts from Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena, and Mikel Oyarzabal dragged a golden opportunity wide with the goal at his mercy. Portugal’s best moments came in a flurry before half-time — Nuno Mendes saw a strike deflect off Pedro Porro and ricochet off the crossbar, and Unai Simón had to be alert to keep out Ronaldo’s acrobatic effort.

Just when a goalless ninety looked destined for extra time, Spain found the breakthrough. Ferran Torres slipped a quick ball into the box and Merino met it at the near post, guiding his finish past Costa in the first minute of added time. There was no way back for Portugal from there.

Tactical story

The match was defined by two well-drilled sides reluctant to leave gaps. Spain looked to control possession and work patient openings; Portugal stayed compact, grew increasingly cagey as the second half wore on, and trusted their structure to take the tie deep. For long spells it worked — Costa’s saves kept the scoreline blank, and Spain’s rhythm was repeatedly broken up in midfield.

But sitting on a goalless game against a side with Spain’s depth of creators is a dangerous gamble, and it failed by the narrowest of margins. The winning goal came from exactly the kind of quick, late incision Portugal had defended against all night: one sharp pass into the box, one clean near-post finish, and the tie was decided before Portugal could mount a response.

Standout players

Mikel Merino decided the match with its only goal, arriving at the near post at the moment that mattered most, with Ferran Torres providing the pass. Diogo Costa was arguably Portugal’s best performer in defeat — his double stop from Yamal and Baena was the save of the night — while Unai Simón made the key intervention at the other end to deny Ronaldo.

For Portugal, Ronaldo’s evening summed up the occasion: one genuine sight of goal, kept out by Simón, in what proved the final World Cup appearance of his career. Nuno Mendes came closest of all to scoring for Portugal, denied only by the crossbar.

What it means

Portugal are eliminated. There is no next fixture, no route back — their World Cup ends in the round of 16, and the tournament loses Cristiano Ronaldo, who had confirmed before the finals that this would be his last World Cup. It is a brutally thin margin on which to go out: level for ninety minutes, beaten by the game’s only moment of incision.

Spain march on to a quarter-final against Belgium — 4-1 winners over the United States in Seattle the same night — on Friday 10 July at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (19:00 UTC). Having beaten a heavyweight rival with a clean sheet and shown the composure to strike in stoppage time, they will head to California as one of the tournament’s form sides.

Our Pre-Match Preview

We looked ahead to this meeting in our full build-up, weighing the strengths of both sides and how the tactical battle might unfold. You can revisit that analysis here: https://kickoffreport.com/portugal-spain-fifa-world-cup-2026-preview/

FAQ

What was the final score of Portugal vs Spain?: Spain won 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Mikel Merino scoring the only goal in the first minute of stoppage time.
Who scored the winner for Spain?: Mikel Merino, who turned in Ferran Torres's pass at the near post in the first minute of added time.
Was this Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup match?: Yes. Ronaldo had confirmed before the tournament that this would be his final World Cup, and Portugal's round-of-16 elimination ends his World Cup career.
Who do Spain play in the quarter-final?: Spain face Belgium on Friday 10 July at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (19:00 UTC). Belgium beat the United States 4-1 in their round-of-16 tie.
Where was the match played?: At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16.

Portugal 0-1 Spain: World Cup Match Report, Arlington