We know them well: Cristiano Ronaldo confident ahead of Portugal vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash
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Ronaldo and Co. will meet Spain in the round of 16.
Before Portugal advanced following a contentious 2-1 victory against Croatia, Spain easily defeated Austria, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice in a 3-0 triumph.
Croatia took the lead thanks to Ivan Perisic, but Cristiano Ronaldo equalised with a penalty. Goncalo Ramos’ header in the 94th minute looked to have won it.
But there was still time for more drama. Josko Gvardiol’s last-gasp equaliser was ruled out by VAR, which used the footballing equivalent of cricket’s snickometer to determine that Igor Matanovic, who was offside, flicked the ball on.
Cristiano Ronaldo believes Portugal are prepared to face Spain after both countries won in the World Cup round of 32 on Thursday.
Also read: Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash
Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to play against Spain
It was tough on Croatia, whose coach, Zlatko Dalic, was furious. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo had already set his sights on the (next) match against Lamine Yamal and Co, when he said:
“We will be ready, we know them well. Spain are among favorites to win. It is a very balanced match, and we will see what happens.”
The last time Cristiano Ronaldo and company faced Spain was in the final of the UEFA Nations League last year. The Selecao beat the 2010 World Cup winners on penalties.
However, La Roja will be eager to avenge their defeat this time. Both sides are set for a huge showdown in one of the top games of the 2026 World Cup next week.
Portugal have struggled to win games in the competition, whereas Spain brushed Austria aside in the round of 32 and topped their group. Portugal did defeat Croatia 2-1 in the knockout stage.
When will the game be played?
They will face them on 7th July at 12:30 am IST.
Where will the game be played?
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States.
Will Ronaldo play?
Barring any injuries, yes, he will.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.