World Cup 2026: Spain and Portugal in Round of 16 Matches on July 2

The knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup continued on July 2, featuring two highly anticipated matches. The main contenders, Spain and Portugal, aimed to advance further in the tournament.

Spain was set to face Austria at 19:00 GMT, having qualified by finishing at the top of their group. However, the Spanish team was expected to deliver a stronger performance, as they had demonstrated potential but needed more convincing play. Led by Lamine Yamal, Spain was preparing for a challenging match against an Austrian side that had shown promise throughout the tournament.

Later that evening, at 23:00 GMT, Portugal would encounter Croatia in what was described as a significant test for both teams. Under the management of Roberto Martínez, Portugal had failed to reassure fans during the group stage and needed to display a much-improved version of themselves to keep their hopes alive in the competition.

The day’s program extended into the night, with Algeria, the next African representative still in the tournament, set to take on Switzerland at 03:00 GMT. The Fennecs were looking to secure their place in the quarter-finals with a decisive victory.

The schedule for the matches (times in GMT):
- Spain vs Austria (19:00)
- Portugal vs Croatia (23:00)
- Algeria vs Switzerland (03:00)

All eyes were on these matches as fans awaited the outcome that would determine which teams would advance.