Spain Beat Portugal, Belgium Thrash USA to Reach Quarter-finals

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

Spain and Belgium secured impressive victories on Monday to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting up a mouth-watering showdown between two of Europe’s football heavyweights.

Spain booked their place in the last eight after grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over neighbours Portugal in a tense Round of 16 encounter.

The closely contested match appeared destined for extra time before Mikel Merino emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal late in the game to send the Spanish supporters into celebration and end Portugal’s World Cup campaign.

The victory underlined Spain’s resilience and defensive discipline as they successfully contained Portugal’s attacking threats before delivering the decisive blow when it mattered most.

In the other Round of 16 fixture, Belgium produced one of the tournament’s most commanding performances, defeating the United States 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals in style.

Charles De Ketelaere starred for the Red Devils with a brace, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the back of the net in a dominant attacking display.

The United States managed a consolation goal through Malik Tillman, but it proved insufficient to halt Belgium’s march into the next round as the Europeans controlled much of the contest.

With the victories, Spain and Belgium have secured a place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet in what promises to be one of the tournament’s standout fixtures.

The Merit Newspaper acknowledges that the winner of that encounter will move a step closer to lifting football’s most prestigious trophy, while the defeated side will see their World Cup journey come to an end.

As the competition enters its decisive stages, the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title continues to intensify, with teams battling for a coveted place in the semi-spots.