The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to deliver a series of high-profile encounters, with Portugal and Spain headlining the Round of 16 fixtures in a highly anticipated Iberian derby.
The European rivals booked their places in the last 16 after impressive victories in the Round of 32. Spain secured a convincing 3-0 win over Austria in Los Angeles, while Portugal edged Croatia 2-1 in Toronto to set up a mouthwatering contest for a place in the quarter-finals.
The much-anticipated clash will be played on Monday, July 6, at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. UTC).
The Round of 16 will begin on Saturday, July 4, with co-hosts Canada taking on Morocco in Houston before France face Paraguay later the same day in Philadelphia.
On Sunday, five-time champions Brazil will meet Norway in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while hosts Mexico take on England in Mexico City in another standout fixture.
The knockout stage continues on Monday with the United States facing Belgium in Seattle before Portugal and Spain renew one of international football’s fiercest rivalries.
Meanwhile, the remaining Round of 16 places will be decided after the conclusion of the outstanding Round of 32 matches, including Australia against Egypt, Argentina versus Cabo Verde, and Colombia against Ghana.
With the tournament now entering the single-elimination phase, teams will have no margin for error. Any match level after 90 minutes will proceed to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to determine which side advances to the quarter-finals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is expected to intensify as the race for football’s biggest prize enters its decisive stage.
