Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke through with his first goal in a World Cup knockout match, and Portugal held off a determined late push from Croatia to win Thursday’s round-of-32 clash in Toronto.
The match delivered plenty of drama and, for a stretch, felt as though it might never settle. In the end, Portugal did enough to secure a 2-1 victory and move on.
So what comes next for Portugal at the World Cup? Here’s a breakdown of its round-of-16 opponent and the possible route ahead as Ronaldo and company chase a place in the final.
(Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Who Could Portugal Play In The Round Of 16?
After Portugal’s 2-1 win over Croatia on Thursday in Toronto, Ronaldo’s side will face Spain in the round of 16. La Roja booked its spot earlier in the day with a victory over Austria.
Portugal and Spain are scheduled to meet at Dallas Stadium on Monday, July 6, at 3 p.m. ET. The match will air on FOX and FOX One.
Who Could Portugal Play In The Quarterfinals?
Should Portugal get past Spain, its quarterfinal opponent will be either the United States or Belgium. Those teams meet in Seattle on Monday, July 6, at 8 p.m. ET, with coverage on FOX and FOX One.
The United States advanced by defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday, while Belgium kept its tournament run alive with a remarkable comeback win over Senegal.
Who Could Portugal Play In The Semifinals?
There are four possible opponents for Portugal in the semifinals: France, Paraguay, Morocco and Canada. Following the round of 16, the winner of France-Paraguay will play the winner or Morocco-Canada in the quarterfinals. And the winner of that match could face Spain, should it advance.
If Portugal reaches the semifinals, the match will be in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.
Portugal vs Croatia Highlights 🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup™ | Round of 32
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