Spain edged Portugal 1–0 in stoppage time. Belgium crushed the United States 4–1. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 16 delivered two results that will be remembered — one for a last-gasp winner, the other for the man who walked off the Dallas Stadium pitch for the final time in a World Cup.
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Spain 1–0 Portugal | Dallas Stadium
For 90 minutes, Portugal held. Diogo Costa produced a brilliant double save in the 15th minute — first gathering a Lamine Yamal curler, then tipping an Alex Baena drive around the post. Nuno Mendes struck the crossbar in the 41st minute after a deflection off Pedro Porro wrong-footed Unai Simón. Cristiano Ronaldo tested Simón in the 11th minute with a powerful right-footed effort. Neither side could break the other.
Then came the 91st minute. Ferran Torres threaded a precise ball into the box for fellow substitute Mikel Merino, who steered a composed low finish into the bottom left corner. Spain 1–0. Portugal had nothing left.
Bernardo Silva’s late header drifted onto the roof of the net. The final whistle followed. Spain are through to the quarter-finals, where they face Belgium. And Cristiano Ronaldo has played his final FIFA World Cup match — a career that spanned four tournaments, one hat-trick against this very opponent in 2018, and a legacy that no single result can diminish.
Belgium 4–1 USA | Seattle Stadium
The United States became the third and last co-host nation eliminated from the tournament, following Canada and Mexico. Belgium were ruthless. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice — capitalising on a Tim Ream clearance error in the 8th minute, then heading in a Leandro Trossard cross two minutes after Malik Tillman had equalised for the USA in the 30th minute. It was 2–1 at half-time after a VAR check in stoppage time found no handball.
The second half was a procession. Matt Freese came out to collect a high ball out of his area in the 56th minute and failed to clear it away. Hans Vanaken got the loose ball and slotted it home. Jérémy Doku came on, drove at the US defence, and struck the crossbar. In stoppage time, Romelu Lukaku needed four minutes off the bench to finish the job — 4–1. Tillman, the US goalscorer, also collected a yellow card in the 69th minute.
Belgium face Spain in the quarter-finals. A Red Devils side with depth, goals from substitutes, and De Ketelaere in the form of his life.
Still to Come — the Round of 16 Concludes
Two matches remain to complete the Round of 16. Argentina face Egypt at the Atlanta Stadium at 9:30 PM IST tonight. Then Switzerland take on Colombia at BC Place in Vancouver at 1:30 AM IST. The winners join the six sides already through to the quarter-finals. After those two matches, the last eight of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be confirmed.
Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia — both live on ZEE 5. Don’t miss the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 16.
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