Merino Stoppage-Time Winner Sends Spain Past Portugal in Dallas
Match statistics
View knockout bracket →- Mikel Merino 90+1'(Ferran Torres)
- Bruno Fernandes 76'
- Renato Veiga 90+4'
- Ferran Torres 90+8'
HT 0–0|Poss 50–41%|Shots 15–10|SOT 6–2
Mon, Jul 6, 2026 • 14:00 (Arlington local)
Spain beat Portugal 1–0 at Dallas Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since winning the 2010 title. Mikel Merino, introduced five minutes from time, slid Ferran Torres's through ball past Diogo Costa in the first minute of stoppage time in front of 70,649 fans, extending La Roja's clean-sheet run to six consecutive matches.
The Iberian derby failed to ignite for long stretches — Nuno Mendes hit the crossbar on 41 minutes and Diogo Costa denied Lamine Yamal and Álex Baena in a lively first half that finished 0–0. Bruno Fernandes, Renato Veiga and Ferran Torres were booked as Portugal finished with just two shots on target from 10 attempts to Spain's six from 15.
Spain advance to face Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday after the Red Devils beat co-hosts the United States 4–1 in Seattle. Portugal exit with Roberto Martinez stepping down as head coach, while Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed before kick-off that this was his final World Cup.