Portugal will be aiming to overcome the reigning European champions Spain when the two meet on Monday evening in their round of 16 match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Texas.
Last time out, Portugal showed their resilience with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia to survive their knockout opener, highlighted by Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic first-ever World Cup knockout goal.
On the other hand, Spain shook off heavy expectations to completely dismantle Austria 3-0, continuing an incredibly entertaining tournament campaign fueled by an explosive attacking lineup that didn’t allow their opponents a single shot on target.
Understanding bet types beyond the basics
Portugal knows that recent tournament pedigree favors them on paper after defeating La Roja on penalties in last year’s UEFA Nations League Final, but Spain enters the fixture with an unmatched defensive edge under Luis de la Fuente, having kept clean sheets in nine of their last ten competitive matches.
With a single-elimination format, both sides must go all out to secure a win to progress to the Quarterfinals.
Betway
What time does Portugal vs Spain start?
The match kicks off at 10PM E.A.T at the AT&T Stadium
Portugal vs Spain team news
While Portugal manager Roberto Martínez enjoys the ultimate luxury of a completely clean bill of health with zero injury or suspension worries after navigating the previous round smoothly, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has a massive selection dilemma on his hands.
The loss of explosive forward Nico Williams to a tournament-ending adductor injury has left a massive creative void on the wings for La Roja.
However, the return of Lamine Yamal to a starting capacity provides a significant boost, meaning Spain may look to lean heavily on the teenager’s shoulders to unlock a stubborn Portuguese defense.
Portugal vs Spain head-to-head record and recent meetings
The Iberian Derby is one of the oldest and most fiercely contested rivalries in international football history.
Across their 40 total head-to-head meetings, Spain holds the historical advantage with 18 wins, while Portugal has claimed 7 victories alongside 15 draws.
USA vs Belgium – World Cup knockout value bet
Their most famous recent World Cup encounter came during the 2018 group stage in Sochi, Russia, which ended in a 3-3 draw featuring a breathtaking hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Their last competitive meeting took place during the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final, where Portugal completely defied the odds by holding Spain to a 2-2 draw before lifting the trophy via a penalty shootout.
Current Form
Portugal: WDWDW
Spain: WWWWW
Mexico vs England – World Cup round of 16 value bet
Portugal vs Spain prediction
There is no doubt that both sides have enough quality to put their opponents under immense pressure throughout the encounter, however Spain have been in much better form and have a slight advantage.
Without having to pick an outright winner, we can expect both teams to at least get a goal in the encounter.
Prediction – Both teams to score
ZarBet
- Very strong sign up offer
- Fast app on iOS & Android
- Extensive betting content
