Spain 1–0 Portugal: Merino Ends Ronaldo's World Cup
Mikel Merino's 90th-minute strike sends Spain to the World Cup quarter-finals, eliminating Portugal in Dallas.
Spain Edge Iberian Derby on Merino's Stoppage-Time Strike
Spain eliminated Portugal from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 6, winning 1–0 at Dallas Stadium in the Round of 16. The only goal of the match came in stoppage time —
a 91st-minute strike from substitute Mikel Merino, set up by fellow sub Ferran Torres, who slipped a quick ball into the box for the Arsenal midfielder to finish at the near post.
The result confirms WeeBet live data (FT: Portugal 0–1 Spain) and ends what was
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream in tears
— likely for the final time. Spain advance to the quarterfinals; Portugal go home.
Track live odds, scores, and upcoming World Cup quarter-final markets at the WeeBet live odds and markets hub, and revisit every key moment on the dedicated Portugal vs Spain match page.
- Final ScorePOR 0 – 1 ESPFT · WeeBet live data
- xG — Portugal0.00Portugal
- xG — Spain0.00Spain
- Goal (90')Merino (sub)Spain
- Pre-match odds (advance)ESP -0 / POR +174FanDuel pre-match
Match Context: Iberian Heavyweights Collide in Dallas
The July 6 fixture marked the 42nd football meeting between two European giants and just their third at the World Cup stage — a lineage running back to a Spanish win in 2010 and an enthralling 3-3 draw in the 2018 group stages.
Most recently,
the pair met in the final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, with Portugal winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time.
Spain arrived in Dallas in formidable form.
They were unbeaten in 34 straight games (W25 D9 L0) since March 2024 — the second-longest undefeated run in their history.
La Roja had yet to concede a single goal in the tournament, keeping clean sheets in their opening four matches — a first in their World Cup history.
Portugal, by contrast, came through the Round of 32 by the skin of their teeth.
Roberto Martinez's side scraped past Croatia needing both a stoppage-time goal from Gonçalo Ramos and a hotly-debated VAR call to advance.
Their group stage included a surprise draw with DR Congo, and despite a win over Uzbekistan, a draw against Colombia saw them finish second in their group.
How the Match Unfolded
First Half: Chances Spurned, Crossbar Struck
The first half was shot-high but goal-shy. Mikel Oyarzabal spurned Spain's best chance, pulling his attempt wide after Dani Olmo sent him clean through, while Diogo Costa did brilliantly to tip Alex Baena's curler round the post.
Portugal's best moment came at the other end:
Ronaldo threatened for Portugal, who came closest when Nuno Mendes's deflected drive rattled the crossbar.
Second Half: A Grind That Ended in Drama
The sides were more cautious in the second period.
A slow-building second half came alive on the hour mark when Portugal gave the ball away in their own half and Dani Olmo cued up Pedri, whose goalbound effort was deflected over the bar by Renato Veiga.
Spain began to take control approaching the final quarter, dictating possession and pushing Portugal deeper — though without creating many clear-cut chances.
Oyarzabal was guilty of a shocking miss with eight minutes left on the clock when he was put through by Dani Olmo but appeared to think he was offside.
That profligacy almost cost Spain dearly.
Spain had held the upper hand throughout but were forced to hold off a frantic late push from Portugal, with Bernardo Silva lofting a header narrowly over the bar from Sergio Conceição's right-wing cross.
The Decisive Moment: Merino, 90+1'
On the cusp of extra time, two substitutes combined as Ferran Torres set up Merino to settle the contest with a powerful and precise low finish.
Portugal paid the price for playing it too cagey for much of the second half, with Arsenal man Merino capitalising with a clever move to send his country through to the last eight.
Key Players
Mikel Merino (Spain): The headline actor.
The Portuguese superstar had been a passenger for much of a low-key contest that belatedly sprang into life when Merino nipped into the box and fired the only goal of the game past Diogo Costa.
The Arsenal midfielder, on as an 85th-minute substitute, delivered one of the most impactful cameos of the tournament to date.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal):
At 41, Ronaldo has probably played in his last major tournament, and potentially his last game for his country.
Ronaldo had announced on Sunday that this would be the final World Cup of his remarkable career.
He registered a shot on goal in the 59th minute but could not produce the decisive moment Portugal needed.
Lamine Yamal (Spain): The 18-year-old provided creativity throughout.
Yamal whipped in a free-kick from the right that was touched over the bar by Costa
, among several moments that kept Portugal's defence stretched.
How the Betting Markets Called It
The markets had Spain as clear favourites before kick-off.
FanDuel Sportsbook listed Spain at -110 on the 90-minute money line versus Portugal at +310, with Spain priced at -215 to advance and Portugal at +174.
The Opta supercomputer gave Spain a
48.6% win probability to Portugal's 25.6%
, with the remaining share covering a draw and extra time.
The 0-1 scoreline validated the market structure entirely: Spain won, kept a clean sheet — their fifth consecutive in the tournament — and advanced as favourites.
Portugal's inferior xG of 0.60 versus Spain's 1.77
confirmed that the scoreline accurately reflected the balance of play. Pre-match low-total positioning also proved prescient:
the under on 2.5 goals had landed in four of the prior five meetings between these sides.
Head-to-head: Last 5 competitive meetings
| Metric | Spain | Portugal |
|---|---|---|
| Wins (last 5) | 2 | 1 |
| Draws (last 5) | 2 | 2 |
| xG (Jul 6, 2026) | 1.77 | 0.60 |
| Goals conceded in tournament | 0 | 3 |
| Under 2.5 goals (last 7 H2H) | 5 of 7 | 5 of 7 |
What Comes Next for Spain
Luis De La Fuente's team will head to Los Angeles Stadium to play the winners of the USA vs. Belgium quarter-final.
Spain remain the only team in the 2026 World Cup yet to concede a goal across five matches — a record that will face its sternest test yet in the last eight.
For Portugal, attention now turns to the managerial future:
reports emerged post-match that Roberto Martinez has stepped down from his role as Portugal head coach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Portugal vs Spain at the 2026 World Cup?
Spain defeated Portugal 1–0 on July 6, 2026, in the Round of 16 at Dallas Stadium. Mikel Merino scored the only goal in the first minute of stoppage time, assisted by Ferran Torres. The result is confirmed by WeeBet live data.
Who scored the winning goal for Spain against Portugal?
Mikel Merino, an 85th-minute substitute, scored the decisive goal at 90+1'. The Arsenal midfielder received a pass from fellow sub Ferran Torres and finished low past Diogo Costa. It was a goal that ended Cristiano Ronaldo's 2026 World Cup campaign.
Was Spain favoured to win the match, and did the odds prove accurate?
Yes. Pre-match markets listed Spain at -215 to advance and -110 on the 90-minute money line. Spain won, kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet, and outperformed Portugal across all key metrics including xG (1.77 vs. 0.60). The result was a clean hit for Spain backers.
Where can I follow live World Cup quarter-final odds and event contracts?
Head to the WeeBet World Cup 2026 hub for live odds, scores, and event contract positions across every remaining match, or visit the dedicated Portugal vs Spain match page to review the full timeline and post-match market settlements.
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