Spain defeats Portugal in dramatic World Cup 2026 eighth final
In a thrilling eighth final of the World Cup 2026, Spain secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal in the dying minutes of extra time. The match, held at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last whistle.
Key moments of the match
The game remained tightly contested throughout regulation time, with both teams creating chances but failing to convert. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 118th minute when Mikael Merino, who had just entered as a substitute, capitalized on a brilliant through ball from Ferran Torres to strike a powerful shot past the Portuguese goalkeeper.
The goal sparked jubilant celebrations from the Spanish players and fans alike, while Portugal, despite their late attempts to equalize, could not find a way past the resilient Spanish defense.
Team performances
Spain started the tournament with a draw against Cape Verde but quickly found their rhythm, topping their group and then comfortably defeating Austria 3-0 in the round of 16. Their attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Álvaro Morata has been instrumental in their journey so far.
Portugal, led by the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, entered the match with a 2-1 victory over Croatia in the last minute of their round of 16 clash. However, their attack lacked the cutting edge needed to break down Spain’s defense, and they fell short in their bid to continue Ronaldo’s quest for a World Cup title.
What’s next?
Spain will now face the winner of the upcoming USA vs Belgium match in the quarter-finals. The anticipation is high as football fans eagerly await the next chapter of this thrilling tournament.
