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Live Updates
Updated 06/07/2026 at 22:43 GMT+1
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- Highlights
22:30
MERINO'S LATE STRIKE SENDS SPAIN INTO WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINALS
Mikel Merino was the hero as Spain secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 win over Portugal.
The Arsenal midfielder climbed off the bench to score a 91st-minute winner at Dallas Stadium, and crush Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of glory on his swansong at the finals.
Spain looked the more threatening of the two sides. The in-form Mikel Oyarzabal squandered a golden opportunity to break the deadlock in the eight minute, shooting wide after he was put clean through by Dani Olmo.
Diogo Costa then came to Portugal's rescue soon after with a smart double save to deny curling efforts from Lamine Yamal and Alexis Baena.
At the other end, Roberto Martinez's side went close on 41 minutes, as Nuno Mendes' deflected drive clattered against the crossbar.
Yamal's dipping free-kick was tipped over by Costa in the 73rd minute, with extra-time looming after both sides struggled to find a cutting edge.
Yet in the first minute of stoppage time, Ferran Torres played in Merino, who calmly slotted past Costa to break Ronaldo and Portugal's hearts.
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Image credit: Getty Images
22:20
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
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Image credit: Getty Images
22:14
THE LATE LATE SHOW
22:09
SPAIN STRIKE LATE TO BREAK PORTUGAL HEARTS
It wasn't the prettiest game of football, but Spain won't care a jot.
They're through to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since they lifted the trophy in 2010.
De la Fuente's side looked the more threatening of the two sides overall, with Yamal a constant threat down the right and Olmo pulling the strings in the centre.
La Roja were solid at the other end of the field, too, as they became the first nation to record six successive clean sheets at the World Cup.
Spain had just been lacking a cutting edge up front, but it arrived at a crucial moment for them, with Merino becoming the hero at the start of stoppage time.
The European champions' reward is a trip to Los Angeles, where they will face either USA or Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday.
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Image credit: Getty Images
22:04
RONALDO'S WORLD CUP DREAM IS SHATTERED
The 41-year-old looks a little emotional as the World Cup trophy evades him and Portugal for a sixth time.
In truth, though, they can have few complaints.
Despite their envious attacking quality, Martinez's side registered just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes, both of those from Ronaldo during the first half.
Portugal's bogey team have struck again, with Spain now having avoided defeat after 90 minutes in 12 of their 13 competitive meetings.
They're left to lick their wounds and are likely to now begin their search for a new head coach, with Martinez widely expected to be stepping away after three years in charge.
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Image credit: Getty Images
Full time
FT
FULL-TIME
Portugal 0-1 Spain
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Image credit: Getty Images
90+9'
YELLOW CARD
Torres needlessly legs up Conceicao, and has his name taken.
Portugal have one final chance from the free-kick, which Joao Neves glances wide of the far post.
The final whistle subsequently blows!
90+7'
SPAIN SUB
Oyarzabal, who's endured a frustrating day by his standards, is replaced by Iglesias for the dying moments.
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Substitution in
B. Iglesias
Spain
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Substitution out
M. Oyarzabal
Spain
90+7'
INCHES AWAY FROM THE EQUALISER
It's now or never for Portugal, with the six minutes nearly up.
Conceicao's ball in from the right is glanced on by Bernardo Silva, but it's just a fraction too high.
Spain are nearly there...
90+4'
YELLOW CARD
Veiga stops Yamal in his tracks, and can have no complaints at going into the book.
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Yellow card
R. Veiga
Portugal
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90+3'
WILL THE BIGGEST PRIZE OF ALL CONTINUE TO ELUDE RONALDO?
This second half's been crying out for a cutting edge, and it's finally arrived.
Is it too late for Ronaldo to dig Portugal out of trouble?
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Image credit: Getty Images
90+1'
GOAL!!! PORTUGAL 0-1 SPAIN (MERINO)
The substitute may just have won it!
Merino takes a quick free-kick, before Ruiz and Torres combine to put him clean through on goal.
The Arsenal midfielder calmly slots past Costa, and could have sealed Spain's passage into the quarter-finals.
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Image credit: Getty Images
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Goal
M. Merino
Spain
90'
STOPPAGE TIME
We're going to play six additional minutes at the end of this game.
Are we set for a dramatic twist...?
89'
YELLOW CARD
Bernardo Silva is late and unnecessarily aggressive in his challenge on Merino.
It leads to the Real Madrid midfielder going into the book.
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Yellow card
B. Silva
Portugal
86'
WE NEED A HERO
There are just under five minutes remaining, plus stoppage time.
Who will stand up and be counted?
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Image credit: Getty Images
85'
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR SPAIN
De la Fuente follows suit, as he introduces Fabian Ruiz and Merino.
Pedri and Olmo are the players to make way.
Substitution in
M. Merino
Spain
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Substitution out
D. Olmo
Spain
83'
DOUBLE CHANGE FOR PORTUGAL
Martinez shuffles his back once more for the final seven minutes.
Bernardo Silva and Conceicao are on, with Neto and Vitinha making way.
Substitution in
B. Silva
Portugal
Substitution out
Vitinha
Portugal
79'
TORRES IN BEHIND
The substitute looks to make a swift impact, as he gets to the byline and cuts the ball back across the six-yard box.
However, Portugal just about manage to scramble the ball away from danger, and behind for a corner.
78'
GOOD BLOCK
Olmo, who's been impressive again today, neatly shifts the ball to make space for a shot.
It's heading on target, but a sliding Dias superbly blocks the goalbound effort.
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Image credit: Getty Images
75'
SPAIN SUB
La Roja have the chance to break through Yamal, but his attempted pass to Baena is a poor one, and Portugal can tidy up.
That is Baena's final action, as he makes way for Torres.
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Image credit: Getty Images
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Substitution in
F. Torres
Spain
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Substitution out
Á. Baena
Spain