World Cup round-up: Spain and Portugal set up Round of 16 showdown

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·2 July 2026

World Cup round-up: Spain and Portugal set up Round of 16 showdown

Victories for Rodri's Spain and Portugal's Matheus Nunes and Ruben Dias have set up a thrilling FIFA World Cup Round of 16 tie between the sides.

Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Austria, while Portugal edged past a Croatia side include Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic with a 2-1 win.

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The pair will lock horns in Texas on Monday 6 July, with kick-off set for 20:00 (UK).

Elsewhere, Rayan Ait-Nouri’s World Cup journey with Algeria is over following their 2-0 loss to Switzerland.

Rodri banked a full 90 minutes, once again wearing the captain’s armband, as La Roja coasted to a fully-deserved victory.

La Roja were dominant throughout, with Rodri the midfield rock through which most things flowed.

Marc Cucurella thought he’d given Spain the lead on 29 minutes only to see his effort ruled out for a foul on Austria keeper Alexander Schlager.

But the new Real Madrid left-back wouldn’t be denied and instead made the cross that Mikel Oyarzabal expertly stroked home on 36 minutes.

Tottenham’s Pedro Porro - once of City - doubled the lead on 66 minutes with a back-post header - his first international goal.

And the impressive Oyarzabal made absolutely sure on 89 minutes from another Cucurella assist to ensure Spain made it 34 matches unbeaten while also securing a first World Cup knockout phase win since 2010.

Portugal’s path to the Round of 16 was a little less straightforward, with a 94th-minute winner from Goncalo Ramos sealing a comeback win over Croatia.

Despite Roberto Martinez’s side controlling large spells of the first 45, Ivan Perisic had given Croatia the lead early in the second half, with Kovacic forcing a fine save from Diogo Costa moments before after breaking through down the left.

But the Portuguese responded through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty 20 minutes from time, after the Al-Nassr striker had seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside.

Kovacic once again was inches from finding the net soon after, though, when he struck the post from the edge of the area following a driving run from deep.

Portugal would steal it though, with Goncalo Ramos’ glancing header settling the tie in stoppage time.

It was harsh on Croatia, who’d already seen two goals disallowed for offside before Gvardiol stabbed home once again with virtually the last kick of the game, only for the flag to be raised once again.

Things were slightly more clearcut for Ait-Nouri’s Algeria, though, who were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland in Vancouver.

Breel Embolo handed the Swiss a tenth-minute lead from Johan Manzambi’s cutback, with Dan Ndoye then doubling the advantage inside 60 seconds of the restart with a clinical finish after Algeria had surrendered possession cheaply.

Former City winger Riyad Mahrez perhaps went closest to reducing the deficit, but saw his first-time effort blocked inside the area soon after that second goal.

Switzerland - on course for a first World Cup knockout win since 1938 - should probably have made it three when Fabian Rieder missed an open goal with around ten minutes to play, but they’d already done enough to progress.