With a goal from Merino in injury time, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in Dallas and qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face the USA or Belgium. 

The first half started at a very fast pace and with phases on both sides. Just in the 8th minute, from Olmo’s cross, Oyarzabal found himself completely alone in a classic one-on-one with Costa, but he shot wide. A great opportunity for the “Roja”. With Vitinha and Fernandes “swallowing” many kilometers in the center, Portugal did not let the Spaniards play their familiar game and immediately threatened in the 41st minute when Mendes shot from the height of the area, the ball hit Poro’s head and “stopped” on the crossbar. 

The quality of the game dropped sharply in the second 45 minutes. And where everything indicated that the two teams were coming to terms with the idea of ​​extra time, De La Fuente’s two substitutions sent Spain to the “8”! A surprising inspiration from Ferran Torres with a vertical pass only brought out Merino who calmly scored and made it 1-0 in the first minute of injury time (90+1′). Portugal had its moment with Silva’s header barely going wide in 90+6. 
Thus, “professor” Luis De La Fuente’s team advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, when they had won the trophy in South Africa. 

It was Cristiano Ronaldo’s last match in a World Cup and perhaps his last with the Portuguese national team, with whom he has 233 matches and 146 goals.
Referee : Anthony Taylor (England)
Yellow cards : Bernardo Silva, Veiga – Ferran Torres

The compositions of the two teams:

PORTUGAL (Roberto Martinez) : Costa, Dias, Veiga, Cancelo (71′ Dalot), Mendes (56′ Nelson Semedo), Fernandes, Neves, Vitinha (83′ Conceicao), Felix (71′ Leao), Neto (83′ Bernardo Silva), Cristiano Ronaldo.

SPAIN (Luis De La Fuente) : Simon, Porro, Laporte, Kubarsi, Cucurreja, Baena (75′ Ferran Torres), Rodri, Pedri (85′ Fabian Ruiz), Olmo (85′ Merino), Oyarzabal (90+7′ Borja Iglesias), Yamal.