Portugal defeats Croatia 2-1 in World Cup 2026 round of 16

Portugal advanced to the quarter‑finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by defeating Croatia 2‑1 in a dramatic round‑of‑16 match at BMO Field in Toronto. Croatia took the lead after Ivan Perišić’s strike in the 53rd minute, but Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the spot in the 68th minute. In injury time, Gonçalo Ramos headed in the winning goal at 90+3. The match was marked by several controversial VAR interventions: a late off‑side ruling cancelled a potential equaliser for Josko Gvardiol, and earlier decisions nullified two Croatian attempts and confirmed Portugal’s penalty after a handball. The victory was dedicated to the late Diogo Jota, and the Portuguese side, coached by Roberto Martínez, will meet Spain in the next round. The use of a ball‑integrated sensor to assist refereeing decisions was highlighted as a new technology in the tournament.