A Spanish sensation and the Portuguese GOAT set up one of the most mouth-watering matches this century. Lamine Yamal’s spellbinding sorcery spurred Spain to a 3-0 win over Austria, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal rallied to edge Croatia at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The Seleção das Quinas and La Roja will now collide in the Round of 16. Embolden and underline it in your calendars.

Spain 3-0 Austria

Los Angeles Stadium

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Mikel Oyarzabal #21 of Spain celebrates with Gavi #9 after scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Spain and Austria at Los Angeles Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alex Pantling - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Don’t sleep on La Roja. Or the man Luis de la Fuente lauded “a great among greats”. Mikel Oyarzabal took his tally to four in North America to pull close to Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland in the adidas Golden Boot race. Spain kept their fourth shutout in succession to sail to Dallas. Another major plus was Lamine Yamal, who got glittered during 85 minutes on grass.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 02: Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain poses for a photograph with the Superior Player of the Match award after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Spain and Austria at Los Angeles Stadium on July 02, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Maja Hitij - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Portugal 2-1 Croatia

Toronto Stadium

Only one 40-something could emerge smiling. Ultimately, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who overcame his long-time Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric. Croatia struck first though another veteran, Ivan Perisic, and then had a goal disallowed. So, too, did Ronaldo before he stroked home a spot-kick to equalise. In injury time, substitute striker Goncalo Ramos nicked Roberto Martinez’s men ahead, before the faintest of touches dramatically denied Josko Gvardiol an 11-hour leveller. What a game of football. (FIFA)

Update news