Portugal and Spain renew their Iberian rivalry in what is arguably the standout last-16 tie of the 2026 World Cup. The match takes place on Monday, July 6, at the Dallas Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.
How the Teams Reached This Stage
Portugal, managed by Roberto Martinez, secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the previous round. After falling behind, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot before Goncalo Ramos headed home a stoppage-time winner. A VAR review spared Portugal from extra time and penalties.
Spain, meanwhile, cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Austria and remain one of only two teams yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Their defence has been solid, and they look to be hitting form at the right time.
Where to Watch Portugal vs Spain
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage starting at 7.30pm BST. UK viewers can also stream the game live via BBC iPlayer or the BBC website. For those on the go, Standard Sport will provide a live blog on matchday. Free highlights will be available on FIFA's official YouTube channel, as well as on BBC iPlayer and the ITVX app and websites.
Team News and Squad Lists
Portugal
Roberto Martinez has a fully fit squad to choose from, though he may consider changes after the narrow win over Croatia. Ronaldo, Vitinha, and Bruno Fernandes were substituted in the second half but are expected to keep their places. Ramos’ winning goal may not be enough to earn him a start.
Portugal squad: Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva. Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo. Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva. Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Goncalo Ramos.
Spain
Spain have injury concerns over three forwards. Nico Williams and Yeremy Pino are likely to miss the game, while new Liverpool signing Victor Munoz is hopeful of being available. Reports in Spain indicate that Lamine Yamal, Aymeric Laporte, and Pedro Porro did not train on Saturday but completed recovery work in the gym, meaning they should be fit to start.
Spain squad: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia. Defenders: Marcos Llorente, Marc Pubill, Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo. Midfielders: Rodri, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Gavi, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena. Forwards: Yeremy Pino, Victor Munoz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Borja Iglesias.
Prediction and Head-to-Head Record
Aside from a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, Portugal have been largely unconvincing at this World Cup. However, a showdown against Spain offers a chance to make a statement. Spain appear to be clicking into gear at the right time, and the battle between Lamine Yamal and Nuno Mendes could be decisive. We expect Spain to progress with a 2-1 victory.
These two nations have met twice before at a World Cup. Spain won in 2010 en route to their eventual triumph, while the 2018 group-stage clash ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick. Overall, Portugal have 7 wins, Spain 18, and there have been 16 draws.
Match Odds
According to UK betting sites, Portugal to progress is priced at 17/10, while Spain to progress is 4/9. Odds are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. For support, visit BeGambleAware or Gamcare.
