The Portugal national team faces Spain in the World Cup 2026 round of 16, on July 6, in Dallas. The battle between Vitinha and Pedri will be crucial for the outcome of the game.

Who are the key players?

Vitinha is a playmaker and has an unparalleled ability to dictate the pace of games through ball possession. A versatile midfielder, he can play in all three midfield positions. In 2025/26, Luis Enrique placed him in a more offensive position and PSG benefited from seven goals and ten assists in 50 games.

How will the battle between Vitinha and Pedri play out?

The Spanish midfielder Pedri is a classic creative midfielder, who stands out for his vision, short dribbling and ability to find a way to get the ball to his teammates. The statistics do not lie: Vitinha is more reliable in passing and has impressed in this World Cup with a passing accuracy of 96%. In the game against Colombia, he made 54 successful passes, becoming the first midfielder to achieve 100% passing accuracy in a game in the competition in 80 years. At 26 years old, the Portuguese already has 20 collective trophies, including two Champions Leagues and a Nations League in the last two years.

What's at stake?

The victory over Croatia, on July 2, gave Portugal an important advantage in the competition. With three wins and two draws in the last five games, Portugal is in good form. The next challenge will be against Spain, on July 6, in Dallas. Last result: Portugal 2-1 Croatia (2026-07-02). Recent form: 3W-2D-0L (WWDWD, most recent first); on a 2-game winning run.