FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 results: Spain win, Cristiano Ronaldo’s last dance continues and Switzerland progress
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 results: Spain played Austria and Portugal faced Croatia in the round of 32. Switzerland and Algeria also squared off as the first knockout round moves to its climax.
Spain 3-0 Austria
Spain underlined their World Cup credentials with a convincing win over Austria in Los Angeles. Following their opening game draw in the group stage against Cape Verde, the European Champions have started to kick into the next gear.
They started the game against Austria slowly, but soon it was one-way traffic. Wave after wave of the Spanish attacking Armada crashed against the opposition defence. Marc Cucurella turned in a shot from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside. They would eventually have their breakthrough in the 36th minute.
Cucurella’s simple low cross from the left was turned in expertly by Mikel Oyarzabal to put Spain ahead. La Roja could have been out of sight by halftime if not for Alexander Schlager. The Austria keeper kept his side in the game, making a stunning save from a Dani Olmo free kick before blocking Lamine Yamal’s attempt from the rebound.
Spain continued their fluid play in the second half as Das Team failed to trouble them at any point. Alex Baena then crossed the ball in the center and saw a marauding Pedro Porro head in to make it 2-0 in the 66th minute. With a minute of normal time remaining, the Cucurella-Oyarzabal combo made it three goals without reply after the new Real Madrid left-back played a sumptuous through ball for the Real Sociedad forward to finish past Schlager.
This win gives Spain their first World Cup knockout win since they beat the Netherlands in 2010 to lift the trophy. Luis de la Fuente’s side are yet to concede a goal at the World Cup and now prepare to face Portugal in the last 16.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia
Portugal survived late drama to complete a comeback win over Croatia in the round of 32. The game carried emotional significance for Portugal as it fell exactly one year after the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, in a car accident.
Also, before the game, Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister had made comments that this could be her brother’s final farewell. The first half at BMO Field, Toronto, saw both teams proceed with caution with little to separate them. Portugal had more possession but didn’t threaten Dominik Livakovic in the opposite goal.
The second half saw Croatia come out with more purpose. Mateo Kovacic saw his effort go straight to Diogo Costa as they began to create chances. The Vatreni were finally rewarded for their persistence in the 53rd minute. Josip Stanisic’s cross found Ivan Perisic on the left side of the box, and he rifled in a finish to put his side ahead.
Igor Matanovic then saw his goal ruled out for offside, but Os Navegadores began to create chances. The impressive Rafael Leao saw his curling effort beat Livakovic but come off against the bar. Ronaldo had a goal chalked off for marginal offside but they were soon level. Nikola Vlasic brought down Renato Veiga during a corner, and Ronaldo calmly converted the penalty right down the middle in the 68th minute.
Croatia appeared to be the better team after the hydration break and had a few chances to go ahead, but the offside flag and Costa’s stunning saves kept parity. Then with the game seemingly heading for extra time, Leao played in a dangerous cross that was headed in by substitute Goncalo Ramos in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The drama didn’t end there.
With a lengthy added time being played, Zlatko Dalić’s side kept attacking and thought they found a dramatic leveler in the 13th minute of the stoppage time. Josko Gvardiol got on the end of a ball to finish past Costa as they celebrated wildly. But VAR intervened.
It was adjudged that Igor Matanovic, who was offside, got the faintest of touches on the ball from the cross before Gvardiol tapped in. The goal was ruled out, extending Portugal’s stay and sending Croatia home. Ronaldo will look to continue his World Cup journey when Roberto Martinez’s side face Spain in the last 16.
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria
Switzerland recorded a first win in the knockout stages of the World Cup since 1938 to progress to the last 16 at the expense of Algeria. The win also marked the first time the Swiss have won three consecutive games at the World Cup.
It was Algeria who had the chance to open the scoring in Vancouver but saw Houssem Aouar unable to connect with a sublime cross from Rafik Belghali in the sixth minute. Four minutes later, they were behind.
20-year-old Johan Manzambi, impressive in the group stages, produced a quality run from the left wing, and his cutback left Breel Embolo with a simple finish to put Switzerland ahead. The African side should have still gone in level at the break when Ibrahim Maza had a good chance but scuffed his shot wide. Murat Yakin’s side made them pay inside 50 seconds of the second half.
Denis Zakaria intercepted Ramy Bensebaini’s pass just outside the right side of the box and saw his cross cleared as far as Dan Ndoye just inside the penalty area. The Nottingham Forest winger drilled a finish into the bottom-left corner to make it 2-0.
The Desert Warriors had the chance to pull a goal back, but talisman Riyad Mahrez saw his attempt blocked by Zakaria. At the end, Rossocrociati comfortably secured a win to set up a last 16 tie against either Colombia or Ghana.
