Portugal vs Spain Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds | WC 2026

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World Cup Predictions

by Fred Mwambu

1 week ago 0 19

Last Updated on July 5, 2026

Competition – FIFA World Cup 2026

Round of 16: Monday, 6 July 2026

Kick-off – 10 pm

Venue – AT&T Stadium, Dallas

The winner faces the winner between Belgium/USA winner

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Why Portugal vs Spain match matters

This is the ultimate test of the Round of 16, pitting two sides that were heavy pre-tournament favourites, but on paper, it looks like a clear gap in form. Spain is one of the two most compact teams that have not conceded a goal yet. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo had to rely on luck and the magic of artificial intelligence technology to survive a Croatian scare in the round of 32. It is also a revenge match of neighbours who clashed at the final of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, with Portugal winning it 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time. The two nations alongside Morocco will co-host the next World Cup in 2030.

The last time these two sides met at the FIFA World Cup was in an opening group stage fixture when Cristiano Ronaldo produced magic, scoring a hat trick in the 3-3 stalemate. Now the legendary striker is 41 years old but Spain knows what he can do after spending nine years at Real Madrid.

Spain, as mentioned earlier, together with Mexico, are the only two teams that are yet to concede a goal after four games at this tournament. Their run, however, was not all rosy. Luis de la Fuente’s side were held to a shocking stalemate against the tournament’s debutant and revelation Cape Verde, but recovered to muscle out Saudi Arabia 4-0. Their teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal grabbed the opening goal and his first at a FIFA World Cup as Mikel Oyarzabal netted a brace. Alex Baena’s lob winner was enough for them to break down Uruguay’’s low block and win their group. A 3-0 thrashing of Austria followed in the Round of 32.

Ronaldo is between a rock and a hard place

Portugal, by contrast, needed Lady Luck to strike Croatia down in the last round. Their path was not straightforward as well, drawing 1-1 with debutants DR Congo, then routing Uzbekistan 5-0 with a Ronaldo brace in there and an uninspiring goalless draw against Colombia in the final group game. The pressure has been mounting on their legendary captain, Cristiano Ronaldo, to perform and match his arch-rival, Lionel Messi, who has so far scored in every game and is leading the race for the golden boot. Ronaldo became the first player to score in six consecutive World Cups and the oldest outfield player to start all the games and remains Portugal’s greatest threat. Definitely, this could be his last World Cup, and there’s that pressure to win the only trophy missing in his glittering cabinet.

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Portugal’s last five matches

03.07.2026 – Portugal 2-1 Croatia
28.06.2026 – Colombia 0-0 Portugal
23.06.2026 – Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan
17.06.2026 – Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
10.06.2026 – Portugal 2-1 Nigeria

Goals scored – 10

Goals conceded – 3

Spain’s last five matches

· 02.07.2026 – Spain 3-0 Austria

27.06.2026 – Uruguay 0-1 Spain
21.06.2026 – Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
15.06.2026 – Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
09.06.2026 – Peru 1-3 Spain

Goals scored – 10

Goals conceded – 1

Head-to-head results for Portugal vs Spain

08.06.2025 – Portugal 2-2 Spain (Portugal won 5-3 on penalties)
27.09.2022 – Portugal 0-1 Spain
02.06.2022 – Spain 1-1 Portugal
04.06.2021 – Spain 0-0 Portugal
07.10.2020 – Portugal 0-0 Spain
15.06.2018 – Portugal 3-3 Spain
27.06.2012 – Portugal 0-0 Spain (Spain won 4-2 on penalties)
18.11.2010 – Portugal 4-0 Spain
29.06.2010 – Spain 1-0 Portugal
20.06.2004 – Spain 0-1 Portugal

Head-to-head summary

Portugal wins: 2
Spain wins: 2
Draws: 6
Goals: Portugal 11-8 Spain

Form guide

Portugal: W-D-W-D-W
Spain: W-W-W-D-W

Portugal team news

Coach Roberto Martinez has a full squad to pick from with no injuries and suspensions.

Key Portuguese players to watch

Ronaldo is the main player everyone will be looking out for in this game, having scored ten World Cup goals but only two at this tournament. He became the first player to score at six World Cups and shares the record six appearances with Messi.

He has started all four games for Portugal and played full minutes in their draws against Colombia and DR Congo, scoring two goals. Even at 41 years, Ronaldo has proved that age is just a number and remains their greatest goal threat both on the ground and in the air.

Bruno Fernandes broke the record for most assists in the English Premier League and has already provided one assist in this tournament. Croatia is likely to sit in a compact midfield block, forcing Portugal to rely heavily on the creativity of Fernandes to unlock opportunities and transition into dangerous positions.

Spain team news

There are no injuries reported or suspensions in the Spanish squad.

Key Spanish players to watch

Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain’s main attacking threat after contributing four goals and an assist so far. The Real Sociedad forward has been efficient in the Spanish colours, scoring 15 goals and assisting seven of his 15 starts for the team.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal provides the creativity to Spain’s attacking force. It took him only ten minutes to score his first World Cup goal on his first start for Spain in their 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia, and he remains their most dangerous weapon. Rodri anchors midfield and gives Spain control against sides that try to sit deep, while a settled defence featuring Pau Cubarsi has not conceded in four matches.

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Predicted starting lineups for Portugal vs Spain

Portugal: Diogo Costa; Nelson Semedo-Ruben Dias-Antonio Silva-Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves-Vitinha-Bruno Fernandes; Pedro Neto-Goncalo Ramos-Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spain: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro-Pau Cubarsí-Robin Le Normand-Marc Cucurella; Rodri-Fabian Ruiz-Pedri; Lamine Yamal-Mikel Oyarzabal-Nico Williams.