Mikel Merino's late strike takes Spain into the World Cup quarter-finals
La Roja will now face the winner of the United States-Belgium clash for a place in the quarter-finals.
Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner sent Spain into the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in a tense all-Iberian round-of-16 clash at Dallas Stadium in Arlington on Tuesday (7 July, Bangladesh time).
![Spain’s Mikel Merino scores their first goal [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]](https://www.tbsnews.net/sites/default/files/styles/infograph/public/images/2026/07/07/mikel_merino.jpg)
![Spain’s Mikel Merino celebrates scoring their first goal [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters]](https://www.tbsnews.net/sites/default/files/styles/infograph/public/images/2026/07/07/mikel_merino2.jpg)
With the match seemingly heading for extra time, Merino broke the deadlock in the 91st minute after Spain took a quick free-kick. He timed his run to collect a through ball from Ferran Torres before firing into the bottom corner past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Portugal pushed for an equaliser during the remaining minutes, but Spain held firm to secure their place in the last eight.
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Ronaldo played the full match as Portugal's World Cup campaign came to an end.
![Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo gives a thumbs up [/Hannah Mckay/Reuters]](https://www.tbsnews.net/sites/default/files/styles/infograph/public/images/2026/07/07/ronaldo_.jpg)
Spain will now face the winner of the United States-Belgium round-of-16 clash in the quarter-finals for a place in the last four.
