In the state of Texas, the Portuguese team needs to beat the Spanish for the first time in a knockout stage to advance in the World Cup, in what will be the seventh meeting between the two nations in major competitions.

In Arlington, a city about 30 kilometres from Dallas, coach Roberto Martínez will try to lead Portugal to the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the fourth time, following their campaigns in 1966, 2006, and 2022.

Iberian duel

For the second time, a World Cup will feature an Iberian duel in what is now called the knockout stage, after Portugal and Spain also faced each other in the round of 16 in 2010 in South Africa, with La Roja emerging victorious 1-0, with a goal by David Villa sending the team from Carlos Queiroz's stadium home.

In that tournament, Spain would even win the only World Cup in its history.

Including European teams, Portugal has never eliminated the Spanish national team in this type of encounter, but in 2025, in Munich, Germany, they overcame their Iberian rival to win the Nations League, with a penalty shootout victory (5-3) after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

In the round of 16, Portugal overcame Croatia (2-1) in a frantic match in Toronto, Canada, with Gonçalo Ramos scoring the winning goal in stoppage time, while Spain 'cleaned up' Austria, 3-0, with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal (he has four in the competition), and continued without conceding goals in the 2026 World Cup.

The winner will face the United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals, who will play in Seattle, in a match scheduled for 5 pm (1 am on 7 July) and already marked by controversy, given the inexplicable 'unpenalization' of Folarin Balogun.