Spain and Belgium Advance to World Cup Quarterfinals
Spain edged Portugal 1-0 on a late goal by Mikel Merino, while Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 to secure their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
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Spain and Belgium have advanced to the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after narrow victories over Portugal and the United States, respectively.
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in a tightly contested match, with Mikel Merino scoring the decisive goal in injury time. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench to deliver a knockout blow, eliminating Portugal and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s tournament. The result marks Spain’s progression to the next stage, where they will face Belgium. This Day reported the goal as a late winner that sealed Portugal’s exit.
Belgium routed the USA 4-1 in their match, confirming their place in the quarterfinals. The loss ended the co-hosts’ World Cup campaign. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino was seen addressing his team after the final whistle, as captured in a post-match image published by The Whistler. The Belgian victory sets up a direct clash with Spain in the upcoming round.
The quarterfinal matchup between Spain and Belgium will be a key fixture in the knockout stage. Both teams advanced on July 7, 2026, with Spain’s win confirmed by The South African and This Day, and Belgium’s result reported by The Whistler and The South African. No further details on the timing or venue of the next match were provided in the source material.