The Portuguese team, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup, with Mikel Merino scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. The match began with an intense pace, with both teams creating scoring opportunities.

What happened?

Cristiano Ronaldo and João Cancelo had chances to score, but the Spanish defense held firm.

Why is this important for Portugal?

The defeat means that the Portuguese team is eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. This is a tough blow for the team, which had reached the round of 16 with hopes of advancing.

What comes next?

The Portuguese team now turns its attention to the Euro 2028 qualifiers, with the goal of qualifying for the tournament. The team's next match will be against Wales, at home, on September 24, 2026. Portugal had come into the match on a run of 3 wins and 2 draws in their last 5 games, and had beaten Croatia 2-1 on July 2, 2026.