Liveticker | Portugal - Spain

M. Merino Dallas StadiumAnthony Taylor90'+ 4Yellow card90'+ 2Added timePortugal have about six minutes to preserve their status at this World Cup.90'+ 1Merino fires Spain aheadMerino wins a free-kick and takes it quickly. Spain move the ball around neatly before Torres slips the ball through to Merino, who fires home at the near post. That could be the goal that sees Spain through to the last eight.90'+ 1 Goal probability 23 % Distance to Goal 11.18 m89'Yellow card85'More changesPortugal bring on Silva and Conceição as Spain turn to Ruiz and Merino.85'Substitution85'Substitution83'Substitution83'Substitution79'Growing Spanish pressureTorres fires the ball back across goal from the byline, and Semedo hooks the ball awkwardly behind for a corner.78'Great blockOlmo is found neatly in the box, and he drives a shot towards the far corner that Dias has to get in the way of.77'Good chasingThe sub Torres hunts down a lofted pass from Pedri, but he can only hook the ball into the side-netting from an awkward angle.76'Not far offVitinha tries his luck, and the ball deflects awkwardly into the area. Fernandes then holds off Cucurella and lashes a shot towards the near post, but the ball bounces off the side-netting.75'Substitution73'Easy enough for SimonYamal wins a free-kick on the wing and then shoots himself, but his effort is tipped over by Simon.72'Back underwayThe ball is moving again, and Portugal now have Leão and Dalot on the pitch.71'Substitution71'Substitution70'Hydration breakAnother stop in play for a drinks break.66'Nobody in the middleNot for the first time, Spain get to the byline and cross only for a good delivery to be met by nobody in the box. This time it is Porro's cross into a perfect area that no Spanish players are ready to get on the end of.65'An easy stopBaena spins and shoots on the edge of the box, but the shot has too little power to trouble Costa.Still no way throughIt remains level as we approach the second half hydration break.© IMAGO/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF62'Another cornerYamal's shot is also deflected behind for a corner, but Costa is able to claim the second set-piece in the air.61'OverSpain win the ball high up the pitch, and Olmo feeds Pedri in a central position. He shoots from the edge of the box, but Veiga gets across to deflect the shot behind for a corner.59'Good thinkingNeves and Félix combine neatly on the edge of the Spain box before the latter chips a cross to the backpost, looking for Ronaldo, but he can't cause any problems with his shot on the stretch.56'And there is the changePortugal's superstar left-back is replaced by Semedo, who is normally a right-back by trade.56'Substitution54'This doesn't look goodMendes has seemingly picked up a knock in that aforementioned duel with Yamal, and now he may well need to leave the pitch.52'More like it from YamalThe Barcelona wonderkid has been quiet so far, but this time he shows his talent by skinning Mendes and sending in a low cross that Portugal clear.51'Could have been moreNeto suddenly has acres of space on the right, but he doesn't use it effectively enough, and his low cross into the box fails to find a teammate.46'Back underwayThe ball is moving once again in this clash between two European giants.Kick-off!Half-time: Portugal 0-0 SpainAn even game reaches the break level. Both sides have had their moments, but Oyarzabal certainly had the best chance when he fired wide when through on goal. It's been a game of small mistakes so far, but as of yet, neither side has been able to make the most of their opportunities.© THOMAS COEXHalf-time45'+ 1Added timeThere will be six extra minutes before the break.45'Way overOlmo feeds Oyarzabal in the box, but he can't quite work space to shoot. The ball then drops to Rodri, who drives a shot a long way over the bar.41'Off the bar!Félix and Mendes work a corner short, leading to Mendes having space to shoot from the corner of the box. He drives a powerful shot towards the far corner that Porro gets his head to, deflecting the ball up and onto the crossbar. That's the closest we have come to a goal so far.37'Portugal go closeA cross from Neto is met by Félix at the back post, and he tries to head the ball back across goal, but Simon is there to make an important stop. Ronaldo then does well to flick the ball goalwards once more, and Simon is there again to make the save.34'Straight across goalYamal slips the ball to Olmo in the box, and he fires a low cross right along the six-yard box, but there is nobody there to turn the ball home for the opener.31'DangerousPedri's well-whipped cross leaves Costa flailing slightly, and the goalkeeper ends up parrying the ball straight to Olmo in the box. He gets his head to the ball, but he can only direct his effort narrowly wide.28'AlmostA ball through the middle almost sets Yamal through, but Veiga slides in to make the interception.27'Back underwayThe ball is moving once again in this round-of-16 tie.24'Hydration breakThe players take a moment to rehydrate before we continue.23'Plenty of shotsSpain have looked more likely to score so far.Goal attempts2off target1on target2off target3on targetThe best chance so farThe opening 20 minutes have been entertaining, but the best chance certainly fell to Oyarzabal, who couldn't hit the target when through on goal.© Florencia Tan Jun16'Double saveYamal finds himself in space for the first time and dips inside on the edge of the box before whipping a curling shot towards the far corner that Costa has to parry. The ball then drops to Baena, who hits an effort towards the opposite post, and Costa reacts superbly once more to tip the ball away.14'Well overBaena has a pop, but his shot flies well over the crossbar.12'Ronaldo deniedFernandes wins the ball high up the pitch and feeds Ronaldo on the edge of the box. He does a neat stepover to create space before hammering a shot at goal that Simon has to parry behind for a corner.8'A massive chanceOyarzabal is fed through the middle by Olmo, and he only has Costa to beat. He has time to set himself, but he hooks his left-footed effort wide of the far post with the goal gaping.7'Powerful effortMendes whips a long ball across the pitch, and then Cancelo has space to drive forward. He tries his luck from the edge of the box and catches his shot well, but there is just too much height on the effort.3'First shotMikel Oyarzabal pinches the ball high up the pitch and bursts towards goal before hitting a low drive that Costa saves with relative ease. Moments later, Yamal sends in a low cross that could have been dangerous.1'We're underwayThe ball is moving in this international derby. Which nation can start the fastest?Kick-off!Players on the pitchThe players are out on the pitch as the respective national anthems play. Not long now until we get underway.Out warming upBoth sets of players are on the pitch doing their final preparations for this one.© IMAGO/David Buono/Icon SportswireMore on that Portugal teamThey make just one change to the side that beat Croatia, with João Félix (pictured) coming in for Rafael Leão.© IMAGO/Leonardo RamirezMore on that Spain teamThey remain unchanged from their 3-0 win over Austria in the previous round.© IMAGO/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORFStarting line-up: PortugalPortugal subsSá, R. Silva, Semedo, Araújo, Dalot, Inácio, Costa, Nunes, B. Silva, Neves, Ramos, Trincão, Leão, Guedes, Conceição Starting line-up: SpainSpain subsRaya, J. García, Pubill, Grimaldo, E. García, Llorente, Merino, Ruiz, Gavi, Zubimendi, Torres, Pino, Williams, Muñoz, Iglesias Calm before the stormThe Dallas Stadium will be tonight's arena.© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEKImpenetrable Spain aren't just impressive on the ball, as they're also the only side yet to concede a goal at the tournament.© IMAGO/SCOTT STRAZZANTERunning the showSpain have completed the third most passes at the tournament so far (2834) having played a game less than France (2872) and Morocco (3126) above them. Rodri (pictured) has been central to that figure being so high, as he leads the individual leaderboard with 435 completed passes.© IMAGO/DC Photo / Crysta Pix /Sports Press PhotoRonaldo's last dance?"I'll quiet when I want, not when you want," said a defiant Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of this big round of 16 tie, but the 41-year-old did confirm this this World Cup - his record equalling sixth - will be his last. So will Dallas be where the curtain comes down? "Hopefully tomorrow isn't my last game," the Portugal captain added.© IMAGO/Bozhan MemisHead-to-head recordSpain have won 18 of their 41 meetings with Portugal, who have triumphed on only seven occasions. The teams’ most recent encounter came in the final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, which Portugal won on penalties following a 2-2 draw. The nations played out another thriller in the FIFA World Cup 2018 group stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s free-kick earning A Seleção a 3-3 draw.© IMAGO/STUDIO FOTOGRAFICO BUZZI SRLHow they got here: SpainSpain are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal at this summer’s tournament. The 2010 winners have looked unstoppable since being held to a goalless draw by minnows Cabo Verde in their opening game, beating Saudi Arabia (4-0) and Uruguay (1-0) in Group H before a one-sided 3-0 victory over Austria in the round of 32.© FREDERIC J. BROWNHow they got here: PortugalAfter drawing 1-1 with DR Congo and beating Uzbekistan 5-0, Roberto Martínez’s team played out a goalless draw with Colombia in their third Group K encounter to finish second behind the South Americans. They then beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic round-of-32 tie, with Zlatko Dalić's team having a late goal disallowed by the video assistant referee.© Dan MullanWelcome along!Follow all of the action as Portugal take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16, kicking off at 9pm CEST on Monday, 6 July in Dallas.