Spain starting lineup vs Portugal confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
La Roja will be the heavy favourites in tonight’s match against their Iberian rivals.
Spain take on Portugal in one of the biggest Round of 16 clashes in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 6. La Roja are one of the early favourites to lift the title in the expanded 48-team edition in North America, and will be looking to book their place in the last-eight.
La Roja started their campaign with a shock goalless draw against debutants Cape Verde, but followed it up with a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia. A hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay sealed their place in the knockout stages.
The European champions cruised past Austria in their Round of 32 clash, which ended in a 3-0 win for Lamine Yamal and Co. Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Pedro Porro also found the back of the net.
Also Read: Will Lamine Yamal play tonight for Spain vs Portugal?
Let’s look at the Spain confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Portugal:
Spain (4-2-3-1): Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Rodri (c), Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Alex Baena; Mikel Oyarzabal.
Substitutes: Joan Garcia (gk), David Raya (gk), Eric Garcia, Gavi, Alejandro Grimaldo, Borja Iglesias, Marcos Llorente, Mikel Merino, Victor Munoz, Yeremy Pino, Marc Pubill, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Martin Zubimendi.
Thoughts on the lineup
Although head coach Luis de la Fuente has most of his squad back to full fitness, he sticks with an unchanged side for tonight’s match. Unai Simon continues to be the Spanish No. 1 ahead of Joan Garcia and David Raya, and the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper starts between the sticks.
Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi have been ever-present at the heart of defence and start tonight as well. They are joined by Pedro Porro on the right and Marc Cucurella on the left. Rodri is the team’s beating heart in midfield and is paired with Barcelona’s creative man, Pedri.
Dani Olmo starts in an advanced role and will be key in providing chances for Mikel Oyarzabal, who has scored four goals in the tournament. Lamine Yamal is fit enough to start the match on the right wing, and Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena starts on the left.
When is Portugal vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Round of 16 clash will be played on Monday, July 6, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 7.
How to watch Portugal vs Spain match in India?
Fans in India can watch the match live on the Zee5 app/website (premium subscription required) and on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.