Spain and Portugal will meet in a high-profile 2026 World Cup last-16 tie on Monday, with both sides aiming to continue their progress in the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The match is scheduled to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with kick-off set for 22:00 Cairo and Mecca time. The World Cup is due to run until 19 July.
Spain arrive in the knockout stage after a convincing victory over Austria, while Portugal needed a late comeback against Croatia to secure their place in the round of 16.
The fixture brings together two European rivals with contrasting routes to the next phase, as Spain look to build on an emphatic attacking display and Portugal seek to carry forward the resilience shown in their previous match.
Spain Rely on Yamal and Oyarzabal
Spain are expected to name a side led by Lamine Yamal in attack, with Mikel Oyarzabal also likely to start after scoring twice in the win over Austria.
Pedro Porro scored the other goal in that match as Spain claimed a three-goal victory to set up a meeting with Portugal.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon is expected to retain his place, with a defensive unit including Porro, Koparsi, Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella.
Spain’s midfield is likely to feature Rodri, Dani Olmo and Pedri, providing a combination of control, creativity and possession in central areas.
Yamal is expected to operate alongside Oyarzabal and Baina in the front line as Spain attempt to break down a Portugal side containing several experienced players.
The Spanish team will be seeking to impose its passing game early, while also using the pace and direct threat of its attackers to exploit spaces behind Portugal’s defence.
Portugal Turn to Ronaldo After Croatia Escape
Portugal reached the last 16 after recovering from a goal down to beat Croatia 2-1 in a dramatic contest.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot to level the match before Gonzalo Ramos struck in stoppage time to complete the turnaround and send Portugal through.
Ronaldo is expected to lead Portugal’s attack again against Spain, with Pedro Neto and Rafael Leao likely to provide support from the wider positions.
Diogo Costa is expected to start in goal. Portugal’s predicted defence includes Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Veiga and Nuno Mendes.
In midfield, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha are expected to be selected as Portugal look to compete with Spain for control of possession.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has reportedly settled on the broad outline of his side for the match, with Ronaldo remaining central to the team’s attacking plans.
A Place in the Quarter-Finals at Stake
The match will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS MAX 1 and beIN SPORTS MAX 3.
Spain will enter the contest encouraged by their performance against Austria, particularly the form of Oyarzabal and the attacking potential of Yamal.
Portugal, meanwhile, will draw confidence from their ability to recover under pressure against Croatia. Their late victory demonstrated the importance of Ronaldo’s influence and Ramos’ impact in decisive moments.
With a quarter-final place at stake, the meeting is expected to be one of the standout ties of the round of 16, bringing together Spain’s youthful attacking talent and Portugal’s experienced core.
