By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Spain, Portugal and Switzerland booked their places in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday after recording impressive victories in their respective Round of 32 encounters, setting up intriguing knockout clashes as the race for football’s biggest prize gathered momentum.
Spain produced one of the standout performances of the knockout stage with a commanding 3-0 victory over Austria in Los Angeles. Displaying their trademark possession-based football and clinical finishing, the former world champions dominated proceedings from start to finish, leaving Austria with little opportunity to mount a comeback.
The emphatic victory reaffirmed Spain’s status as one of the tournament favourites and earned them a mouth-watering Round of 16 showdown against Iberian rivals Portugal in what is expected to be one of the biggest fixtures of the knockout phase.
Portugal also advanced after edging Croatia 2-1 in a fiercely contested encounter in Toronto. The Portuguese side showed resilience and composure under pressure, with veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo playing a key role as Portugal held off a determined Croatian challenge to keep their World Cup dream alive.
The victory ensured Portugal maintained their pursuit of a second major international title and set the stage for a blockbuster clash with Spain, a rivalry that has produced several memorable encounters on the international stage.
In Vancouver, Switzerland completed the day’s action with a disciplined 2-0 victory over Algeria. Combining defensive solidity with clinical finishing, the Swiss controlled much of the contest to secure a deserved place in the last 16.
Switzerland will now await the winner of the Round of 32 tie between Colombia and Ghana as they continue their quest for a historic run in the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.
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Thursday’s results further highlighted the growing intensity of the knockout stage, where every mistake carries the risk of elimination and every victory moves teams one step closer to lifting football’s most coveted trophy.
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With heavyweight nations continuing to progress and several high-profile clashes already confirmed, The Merit Newspaper acknowledges that attention now shifts to the Round of 16, where Spain’s meeting with Portugal promises to headline another exciting chapter in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
