Who will Portugal face in Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Croatia?
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Seleção progress to the next round with a narrow win.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s first World Cup knockout goal cancelled out Ivan Perisic’s opener in a game in which four goals were called offside. It includes what would have been a match-winning goal for Ronaldo, 41.
Portugal controlled the first half. They might have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute. Bruno Fernandes was set up by Rafael Leao, only to be thwarted twice – first by a Dominik Livaković save and then by a desperate defensive stop.
Portugal defeated Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic World Cup last-32 match in Toronto. Goncalo Ramos scored in stoppage time, while Josko Gvardiol’s equaliser was controversially disallowed.
Who will Portugal face in the FIFA World Cup round of 16 after beating Croatia?
Portugal advanced to the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after overcoming Croatia in a thrilling 2-1 victory in Toronto.
Goncalo Ramos scored in injury time to complete Portugal’s comeback after Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead. Cristiano Ronaldo had also netted a penalty to bring the game level.
Portugal will next play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on July 6. La Roja defeated Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 match.
Luis de la Fuente’s team won Group H with a shock draw against World Cup debutants Cabo Verde. Spain replied with wins over Saudi Arabia and Uruguay before overcoming Austria in the Round of 32. It extended their flawless defensive record in the tournament without surrendering a single goal.
If Ronaldo and his teammates want to beat Spain, they must perform at their peak. The match will have special emotional importance for Portugal. It will take place one day before the anniversary of forward Diogo Jota’s death in a vehicle accident.
When will Portugal face Spain?
They will face them on 7th July, 12:30 am IST.
Where will the game be played?
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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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.