World Cup 2026: Spain Edges Out Portugal as Ronaldo Exits; Belgium Thumps USA to Reach Quarterfinals

Ritesh Phuyal Jul 07, 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 delivered a mix of heartbreak, high drama, and massive scorelines on Tuesday as football heavyweights Spain and Belgium booked their tickets to the quarterfinals. The results brought a curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary World Cup career and ended the host nation’s dream run.

Merino’s Stunner Shatters Ronaldo’s Dream

In a highly anticipated all-European blockbuster, Spain defeated Portugal 1–0 in a nerve-wracking encounter. Defenses on both sides held firm throughout a fiercely contested 90 minutes of regular play, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

The breakthrough arrived in the absolute dying moments of the match. In the first minute of stoppage time (90+1′), Spanish substitute Mikel Merino found the back of the net with a sensational strike to send Spain through. The defeat marks a poignant end for 41-year-old veteran forward Cristiano Ronaldo, whose lifelong dream of lifting the World Cup trophy comes to a final close.

Belgium Outclasses Co-Hosts USA

In the day’s other major clash, co-hosts United States suffered a bruising elimination, falling 4–1 to a clinical Belgium side. Despite massive home support, the Americans struggled to cope with Belgium’s relentless offensive pressure.

The match was preceded by intense drama after FIFA cleared U.S. forward Folarin Balogun to play following a controversial red card overturn. However, the off-field boost did not translate to pitch success. Malik Tillman managed to pull one back for the USA via a brilliant free-kick, but it proved to be a mere consolation. Spain and Belgium are now scheduled to face each other in a blockbuster quarterfinal match this coming Saturday.

Current Teams in the Quarterfinals:

Six teams have officially secured their spots in the final eight: