TORONTO, Canada.– Portugal sealed its qualification to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this Thursday after defeating Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic match decided in stoppage time, a result that sets up an attractive Iberian duel against Spain for a ticket to the quarterfinals.
The match, played at BMO Field in Toronto, was decided by a goal from Gonçalo Ramos in the 90+4th minute, when everything seemed headed for extra time. However, Croatia responded immediately and Josko Gvardiol leveled the score in the 90+13th minute, although the goal was disallowed by VAR after an offside position was confirmed.
With the victory, the team managed by the Spaniard Roberto Martínez advanced to the next round after finishing second in Group C, behind Colombia.
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Portugal will now face Spain on July 6th at the Dallas stadium, in a matchup that promises to be one of the most attractive of the tournament’s round of 16.
The Spanish national team secured its spot hours earlier by thrashing Austria 3-0, with an outstanding performance by Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored a brace, and will arrive at the match having gone four consecutive games without conceding a goal.
The clash between the Portuguese and the Spanish will have a special meaning, as both countries, together with Morocco, will be the main hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
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Portugal will seek to keep alive the dream of winning its first world title, while Spain will try to continue advancing in its goal of winning the second star in its history.
