July 3, 2026

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Portugal and Spain are meeting for the 3rd time in a World Cup game, the two nations played to a 3-3 draw in a group stage game in 2018 and Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the knockout round of the 2010 tournament. Overall the nations have faced off on 41 occasions. Spain have 18 wins with Portugal winning 6 and they have drawn 16 times.
• This encounter will pit two of the games rising starts Nuno Mendes of Portugal and Lamine Yamal of Spain as they should have an entertaining battle on the left side of the pitch.
• Cristiano Ronaldo with 3 goals leads Portugal in scoring in the competition while Spain are led by Mikel Oyarzabal with 4 goals.
• Portugal are appearing in their ninth World Cup and have qualified for the last seven tournaments. There best finish was 3rd in 1966 and 4th in 2006. Spain are appearing in their seventeenth World Cup and were crowned champions in 2010. They also finished fourth in the competition in 1950.
• Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first knockout game goal at the World Cup on the way to Portugal knocking out Croatia last Thursday.
• The winner of this contest will take on the winner of USA and Belgium in the Quarter-Finals in Los Angeles, USA on July 10, 2026.

POTENTIAL STARTING ELEVEN