Portugal sealed victory in dramatic fashion after Gonçalo Ramos headed home a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling encounter in Toronto
LOS ANGELES/TORONTO:(UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-July 3rd, 2026) Portugal and Spain secured their places in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, with contrasting victories, as Portugal survived a dramatic finish to defeat Croatia 2-1, while Spain produced a dominant 3-0 win over Austria.
Portugal sealed victory in dramatic fashion after Gonçalo Ramos headed home a stoppage-time winner in a thrilling encounter in Toronto. Croatia appeared to have snatched a last-minute equaliser, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, handing Portugal a hard-fought place in the next round.
Croatia had taken the lead in the 53rd minute through Ivan Perišić before Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo restored parity from the penalty spot in the 68th minute. The 41-year-old forward's strike made him the oldest player to score in a FIFA World Cup knockout match.
Ramos' injury-time header sparked jubilant celebrations among the Portuguese players, who were moments away from extra time before securing victory.
Following the final whistle, an emotional Ronaldo paid tribute to his late Portugal teammate Diogo Jota by holding up a Portugal jersey bearing the number 21. Jota, who lost his life in a car accident last year, was remembered by the squad after the match.
The victory sets up an all-Iberian Round of 16 clash between Portugal and Spain in Dallas on Monday.
Earlier, Spain underlined their credentials as one of the tournament favourites with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Austria in Los Angeles.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice, while Pedro Porro added the third as Spain completely controlled the contest, preventing Austria from registering a single shot on target.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a composed finish after a flowing team move. Porro doubled the advantage with a header in the 66th minute before Oyarzabal completed his brace by converting Marc Cucurella's precise cross.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente praised his team's performance, describing it as one of their best displays of the tournament. He said the team had performed close to perfection but stressed that tougher challenges awaited as the World Cup entered its knockout phase.
With both victories, Portugal and Spain advanced to the Round of 16, setting up one of the most anticipated fixtures of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
