Spain are through to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a tense 1-0 victory over Portugal in a fiercely contested Iberian derby that was decided in stoppage time by Mikel Merino.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
In a match heavy with rivalry, nerves and tactical caution, the decisive moment arrived in the 91st minute. Merino, introduced from the bench only minutes earlier, appeared at precisely the right time to finish Spain’s best move of the night and send La Roja into the last eight.
The setting in Dallas had all the ingredients of a major knockout tie: two European heavyweights, a long-standing Iberian rivalry and the possibility of Cristiano Ronaldo playing his final match on the World Cup stage. Portugal wore their traditional red, while Spain, unusually, lined up in white — a curious visual twist on a day when the San Fermín festivities began in Pamplona, with white and red filling the streets.
On the pitch, however, Spain remained unmistakably Spain. Luis de la Fuente’s side sought control through possession, patience and structure, while Portugal looked to break through the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix and Bruno Fernandes. The first half was balanced rather than spectacular, with both teams wary of taking unnecessary risks.
Spain created flashes of danger through Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal, but Portugal’s defensive shape held firm. At the other end, Ronaldo and João Félix tried to unsettle the Spanish back line, though clear chances were limited. It was a match played more on tension than freedom.
After the interval, Spain began to grow into the game. Their passing became sharper, their control more obvious, and Portugal increasingly retreated into a more cautious shape. For long periods, the match appeared destined for extra time. Neither side wanted to be the first to make the mistake, and every attack carried the weight of a tournament-defining moment.
Then came Merino.
Ferran Torres helped create the opening, and Merino finished with composure, scoring the goal that broke Portuguese resistance and transformed a tight, attritional contest into another memorable Spanish knockout victory. It was not the first time Merino had delivered on the biggest stage. Two years earlier, he had scored the late goal that helped Spain eliminate Germany at Euro 2024. Against Portugal, he once again became the man of the decisive moment.
Portugal had one final chance to respond, but Bernardo Silva’s effort went over the bar. Moments later, the final whistle confirmed Spain’s place in the quarter-finals and Portugal’s painful exit from the tournament.
And on a day of white and red — the colours of San Fermín and, in an unexpected way, Spain’s own story of the night — La Roja found a way to remain true to themselves, even in white. Portugal are out. Spain march on. And Mikel Merino has once again written himself into Spanish football history.
