Merino fires Spain past Portugal, historic shutout streak continues

Mikel Merino came off the bench and struck in the 90+1 minute to lift Spain past Portugal 1-0, sending Luis de la Fuente’s side into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since it won the tournament in 2010. The late goal at Dallas Stadium settled a tight Round of 16 match.

Spain became the first men’s team in World Cup history to record six consecutive clean sheets, extending a shutout run that dates back to the 2022 World Cup. Unai Simón pushed his World Cup scoreless streak to 609 minutes, passing Walter Zenga’s previous record of 517 minutes without conceding, set in 1990. Spain had already matched the old mark of five straight clean sheets before breaking it against Portugal.

De la Fuente praised Merino afterward as “safe” and “one of the best in the world” in his position, and said Spain trust their team heading into the quarterfinal. The victory also ended Portugal’s run, with Roberto Martínez confirming he is leaving his job as Portugal coach. Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup campaign ended with the defeat.

Spain now turns to Belgium. In Seattle, Belgium beat the United States 4-1 behind a Charles De Ketelaere double in the 9th and 33rd minutes, a Malik Tillman reply for the Americans in the 31st, and second-half goals from Hans Vanaken in the 57th minute and Romelu Lukaku in stoppage time at 90+3. De Ketelaere also added an assist as Belgium booked its place in the last eight, while the United States exited as the final co-host left after Canada and Mexico had already been eliminated.