Spain vs. Portugal history: European juggernauts set to meet once again in 2026 World Cup Round of 16

Spain vs. Portugal history: European juggernauts set to meet once again in 2026 World Cup Round of 16 originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Spain and Portugal both secured victories in the Round of 32 on Thursday, setting up a clash on Monday to decide who advances to the quarterfinals.

The two countries share a border, making this a rivalry on the soccer field that dates back more than 100 years. While they have only met twice in World Cup history, this will be their third meeting on the tournament stage in the last five editions.

Spain will enter the match as the favorite, but Portugal is certainly capable of pulling off the upset to return to the World Cup quarterfinals. With Cristiano Ronaldo potentially playing in his final World Cup match, the contest is expected to carry an intensity beyond the typical knockout stakes.

Here’s a look back at how Spain and Portugal have fared against each other throughout their history.

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Spain vs. Portugal history

Spain and Portugal have played a total of 41 matches against each other, but most of those meetings have been friendlies. In those friendly matches, Spain has 12 wins, Portugal has 12 wins, and the two sides have drawn 12 times.

Beyond those 29 friendlies, Spain and Portugal have also faced each other in international competition ranging from the World Cup to the UEFA Nations League and the European Championship. Here’s a look at how the two teams have fared on the competitive international stage:

DateResultCompetitionLocationJune 8, 2025Portugal 2, Spain 2 (Portugal 5-3 in PKs)UEFA Nations League FinalsMunich, GermanySeptember 27, 2022Spain 1, Portugal 02022 UEFA Nations LeagueBraga, PortugalJune 2, 2022Spain 1, Portugal 1UEFA Nations LeagueSeville, SpainJune 15, 2018Spain 3, Portugal 3FIFA World CupSochi, RussiaJune 27, 2012Spain 0, Portugal 0, (Spain 4-2 in PKs)UEFA EuroDonetsk, UkraineJune 29, 2010Spain 1, Portugal 0FIFA World CupCape Town, South AfricaJune 20, 2004Portugal 1, Spain 0UEFA EuroLisbon, PortugalJune 17, 1984Spain 1, Portugal 1UEFA EuroMarseille, FranceApril 9, 1950Spain 2, Portugal 2FIFA World Cup qualificationLisbon, PortugalApril 2, 1950Spain 5, Portugal 1FIFA World Cup qualificationMadrid, SpainMarch 18, 1934Spain 2, Portugal 1FIFA World Cup qualificationLisbon, PortugalMarch 11, 1934Spain 9, Portugal 0FIFA World Cup qualificationMadrid, Spain

Overall, Spain has the edge in this rivalry as Portugal has just two wins on the international stage against its rival.

Last time Portugal played Spain

The most recent matchup between Portugal and Spain came at the UEFA Nations League Finals in 2025, when Portugal defeated Spain on penalties.In the process, Portugal became the first team to win multiple UEFA Nations League titles in the competition’s short history.

Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the match, scoring the equalizer in the 61st minute to send the game to penalties. Portugal then converted all five of its penalty attempts, while Spain missed one, allowing Portugal to seal the victory.

Portugal  and Spain FIFA World rankings

Entering the FIFA World Cup, Spain and Portugal were two of the top 10 teams in the world according to FIFA’s rankings. Spain came into the tournament ranked No. 3 overall, while Portugal was ranked No. 7.

When is Spain-Portugal Round of 16 game?

Spain and Portugal will face off at the World Cup in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6. The match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and will be played in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.