The 2026 men’s World Cup round of 16 is coming into focus.
Thursday was the penultimate day of round of 32 competition with six more teams battling to clinch their spot in the bracket’s next round. The day’s slate wasn’t hurting for star power either with Lamine Yamal’s Spain facing Austria and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal facing Croatia before the nightcap between Switzerland and Algeria.
Here is a look at how all the action unfolded.
- Spain 3, Austria 0
- Portugal 2, Croatia 1
- Switzerland vs. Algeria, 11 p.m. ET
All odds via FanDuel and all times Eastern.
- Australia (+120) vs. Egypt (-146), 2 p.m. – Arlington, Texas
- Argentina (-1,800) vs. Cabo Verde (+1,060), 6 p.m. – Miami Gardens, Florida
- Colombia (-650) vs. Ghana (+440), 9:30 p.m. – Kansas City
Spain continues to look like a realistic contender to win the entire thing, as they cruised to a straightforward 3-0 victory over Austria.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro scored the goals with the former notching a brace, while the defense continued its brilliance with yet another shutout.
In fact, the defense that is yet to allow a single goal in this World Cup didn’t even allow a shot on target. That made for a rather easy afternoon for goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Frankly, it was a credit to Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager that the game wasn’t over at halftime. He tallied five saves before intermission, including an incredible one on Spain star Lamine Yamal on a loose ball following a free kick.
Contact on Schlager also led to a foul that overturned Marc Cucurella’s opening goal to preserve the tie, but it was just a matter of time before the victors found the back of the net given how the game was unfolding.
And that happened in the 36th minute when Oyarzabal found himself wide open in the middle of the box. All the situation required was a soft touch to guide Cucurella’s perfectly placed pass into the goal, and he gave his side the lead it needed to continue controlling the game.
While Austria’s defense and Schlager did what they could to remain within striking distance, the difference in quality was obvious.
Much like the first half, it was only a matter of time before Spain connected in the second half as they continued to dominate possession and create chances. This time it was Porro who scored the goal on a header from a timely Álex Baena cross.
It was Porro’s first international goal for Spain, and it provided some breathing room for a defense that didn’t even need it.
With the game well in hand, Oyarzabal added the exclamation point with another goal right before stoppage time as Spain began to turn their attention toward the round of 16.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first knockout goal of his World Cup career before a clutch header from Gonçalo Ramos sent Portugal to the Round of 16.
Ronaldo got an early chance to put Portugal ahead on a blocked free kick from just outside the box.
It was Croatia that broke through first with a 53rd-minute goal from Ivan Perišić.
Ronaldo appeared to have scored the equalizer in the 63rd minute before his tally was ruled offside.
Five minutes of game time later, Ronaldo finally tied the game at one goal apiece on a penalty kick.
Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa kept the score even by punching aside a potential go-ahead goal from Mateo Kovačić in the 75th minute.
Croatia got another opportunity at a go-ahead goal with a 80th-minute tally from Petar Sučić that was ruled offside.
Portugal earned its first lead of the game in extra time after Rafael Leão found Ramos for a go-ahead header.
Croatia looked to have found hope in extra time when Joško Gvardiol scored an equalizer in the 103rd minute. The tying goal was ultimately ruled offside on video review.
Portugal will now advance to play Spain in the Round of 16.
