Portugal, Spain and Switzerland advance to World Cup Round of 16

On July 2, 2026, Portugal defeated Croatia 2‑1 to move into the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot in the 68th minute and Gonçalo Ramos headed the winning goal in the 94th; a later Croatian equaliser was cancelled after VAR ruled Mario Pašalić off‑side. Spain and Switzerland also secured places in the last‑16 round.

The tournament marked its five‑millionth spectator, French fan Raphaël Noufele, and saw Lionel Messi extend a record‑breaking seven‑match scoring streak while preparing for his 30th World Cup appearance. Upcoming Round of 16 fixtures include Canada vs. Morocco, Brazil vs. Norway, and Mexico vs. England among others.