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The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage is delivering drama like never before. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic penalty to a last-gasp VAR controversy and Switzerland making history after 88 years, here’s everything you need to know from the latest round of action.
🇵🇹 Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Ronaldo’s First World Cup Knockout Goal
Venue: Toronto Stadium
In one of the most chaotic matches in World Cup history, Portugal snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia deep into stoppage time — and not without major VAR controversy.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the oldest player ever to start a World Cup knockout match at 41 years old, and he delivered when it mattered most. After a VAR check spotted a foul on Renato Veiga at a corner, Ronaldo stepped up and coolly converted from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute — his first-ever World Cup knockout stage goal, a milestone the legend had been chasing for over two decades.
Match Timeline
- 53′ — Ivan Perisic fires Croatia ahead after Ruben Dias’ half-clearance
- 55′ — Igor Matanovic thinks he’s doubled the lead but offside rules it out
- 67′ — Rafael Leao rattles the crossbar, Ronaldo has a dinked finish ruled out for marginal offside
- 73′ — ⚽ Ronaldo scores penalty — his first WC knockout goal ever!
- 81′ — Ronaldo substituted, visibly unhappy
- 90+4′ — ⚽ Goncalo Ramos heads in from Leao’s cross — 2-1 Portugal!
- 90+13′ — ❌ Gvardiol bundles in but VAR rules it out for offside in the buildup
The match also marked the likely World Cup farewell for Luka Modric (40), who put in a masterful midfield performance but couldn’t prevent Croatia’s exit. In an emotional post-match moment, Ronaldo pulled on the jersey of late former teammate Diogo Jota and led the celebrations with tears in his eyes.
📅 Next up: Portugal vs Spain in Round of 16 — Monday, July 6 at Dallas Stadium.
🇨🇭 Switzerland 2-0 Algeria: First Knockout Win Since 1938
Venue: Vancouver Stadium
Switzerland made history by recording their first World Cup knockout stage win in 88 years — since beating Germany in the 1938 Round of 16 — with a commanding victory over Algeria.
- Breel Embolo opened the scoring in the 10th minute after brilliant wing play from Johan Manzambi
- Dan Ndoye (Nottingham Forest) doubled the lead just 46 seconds into the second half
- First time Switzerland scored 2+ goals in a WC knockout game since 1954
📅 Next up: Switzerland will face the winner of Colombia vs Ghana on July 7 at BC Place Vancouver.
🇪🇸 Spain vs Portugal: The Marquee Last-16 Clash
Monday’s match between European champions Spain and a resurgent Portugal side is shaping up to be the standout tie of the Round of 16. With Ronaldo potentially facing his Spanish rivals one last time on the world stage, this is must-watch football.
| Date | Monday, July 6, 2026 |
| Time | 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET |
| Venue | Dallas Stadium, Texas |
| TV | BBC / Fox Sports |
Upcoming World Cup Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, July 3 | Australia vs Egypt | TBD |
| Fri, July 3 | Argentina vs Cape Verde | TBD |
| Sat, July 4 | Colombia vs Ghana | TBD |
| Mon, July 6 | Spain vs Portugal 🇪🇸🇵🇹 | Dallas Stadium |
| Tue, July 7 | Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana | BC Place Vancouver |
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Cristiano Ronaldo ever scored a World Cup knockout goal before?
No. Before this match, Ronaldo had scored 8 World Cup goals across five tournaments (2006-2022), but none in the knockout stages. His penalty against Croatia was his first World Cup knockout goal — remarkably achieved at age 41 across six tournaments.
Why was Croatia’s late equalizer ruled out by VAR?
Josko Gvardiol scored in the 103rd minute, but VAR review showed that Igor Matanovic got the slightest touch on a cross that fell to Mario Pasalic, who was offside in the buildup before Gvardiol’s finish. The goal was correctly ruled out after a lengthy VAR check.
When was Switzerland’s last World Cup knockout win?
Switzerland’s last knockout win was in 1938 — a 4-2 victory over Germany in the Round of 16. The 88-year drought is the longest gap between knockout wins in World Cup history.
Where can I watch Spain vs Portugal?
In the US, matches are broadcast on Fox Sports. In the UK, BBC and ITV are sharing coverage. The match kicks off at 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET on Monday, July 6.
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