The night of 6–7 July delivered two thrilling Round of 16 matches in the WC 2026 match schedule by Kyiv time: Spain knocked out Portugal in stoppage time — and with them ended Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup journey — while Belgium convincingly thrashed the USA 4:1 in Seattle. Both results determined half of the quarter-final bracket.
Night results
Portugal — Spain 0:1 (Dallas, 22:00 Kyiv time)
The match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas was long unable to produce a goal: both sides had gone unbeaten in the tournament, yet the game failed to live up to expectations. Spain had the best chance as early as the 8th minute — Mikel Oyarzabal found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper but dragged the ball wide of the post. Portugal responded with a Nuno Mendes strike against the crossbar in the 41st minute. In the second half the tempo dropped, and it seemed the match was heading to extra time. However, in the 90+1st minute substitute Ferran Torres split the defence with a pass, and Mikel Merino buried the ball into the near corner with a precise low finish — 1:0. For Ronaldo, who had previously announced this tournament would be his last, it proved to be his farewell to the World Cup.
Man of the match: Mikel Merino (Spain) — the decisive goal in the 90+1st minute. Spain set a record — six consecutive clean sheets at World Cups. Head coach Luis de la Fuente said after the game: "The players who came off the bench were decisive. I told Merino to play the way he always plays."
USA — Belgium 1:4 (Seattle, 03:00 Kyiv time)
The match at Lumen Field in Seattle began with a sharp off-field controversy: FIFA had the day before overturned the one-match suspension of Folarin Balogun, who had been sent off in the Round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Belgium took to the pitch with a clear intent to assert their superiority. Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring as early as the 9th minute. Malik Tillman equalised with a free kick in the 31st minute, but just a minute later De Ketelaere completed his brace — 2:1 at half-time. In the 57th minute USA goalkeeper Matt Freese came well off his line and lost the ball — Hans Vanaken made no mistake: 3:1. Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a substitute, put the seal on it in added time — 4:1. Christian Pulisic picked up an injury and left the field after that episode. USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted after the match: "From the first minute we were not in the game. That is the reality."
Man of the match: Charles De Ketelaere (Belgium) — two goals and a defining role in the victory. All three WC 2026 host nations — the USA, Canada and Mexico — have been eliminated at the Round of 16 stage.
Tournament bracket
Following the two matches on 6 July, the quarter-final bracket is taking clearer shape. Spain advance to the quarter-finals and will face Belgium on Friday, 10 July, in Los Angeles (19:00 Kyiv time). Norway (beat Brazil 2:1) and England (beat Mexico 3:2) had already confirmed their quarter-final places earlier — they will meet each other on Saturday, 11 July, in Miami. Also in the quarter-finals are France and Morocco, who will face each other on Thursday, 9 July, in Boston. More details on the results of the previous Round of 16 matches and the progression of Morocco and France to the quarter-finals can be found in our previous article.
Off the pitch
- The Balogun–FIFA controversy. FIFA's decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's suspension triggered widespread reaction. UEFA called the decision "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustified." The Belgian Football Association (RBFA) filed an appeal, but FIFA rejected it as inadmissible. US President Donald Trump publicly confirmed that he had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's red card. FIFA's Disciplinary Committee also fined the player $40,000.
- Ronaldo's farewell. Cristiano Ronaldo ended his World Cup career following the defeat to Spain. He made his World Cup debut in 2006 and became the first player in history to score at six different World Cups. Portugal have not reached a World Cup quarter-final in 20 years.
- Pulisic injury. USA captain Christian Pulisic suffered a leg injury during the match against Belgium and left the pitch early. Details of the injury have not yet been confirmed.
- Martinez resignation. Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez resigned following the team's elimination from the tournament.
Today, 7 July, the WC 2026 match schedule by Kyiv time features two more Round of 16 matches: Argentina — Egypt (19:00 Kyiv time, Atlanta) and Switzerland — Colombia (23:00 Kyiv time, Vancouver). Full previews will appear in the evening preview section.
Photo: FRANCE 24 · Editorial (source)
