World Cup Round of 16 Highlights: USMNT Faces Belgium; Ronaldo's Portugal Meets Spain
On Monday, July 6, the spotlight shines on Dallas as Portugal and Spain face off at 3 p.m. ET with a quarterfinal spot at stake. These neighbors have met 41 times before, but this will be only their third encounter in World Cup history. Last year’s UEFA Nations League Finals saw Portugal triumph in a penalty shootout, adding extra tension to this match.
Spain entered the knockout stage confidently after a 3-0 victory over Austria, while Portugal edged past Croatia 2-1 in a thrilling comeback during the Round of 32. Betting odds favor Spain at -230 over Portugal’s +184.
The winner will meet either the United States or Belgium in the quarterfinals, set for Friday in Los Angeles.
USMNT Seeks Breakthrough Against Belgium
The evening match, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET in Seattle, features the United States Men's National Team against Belgium. Both teams stand evenly matched according to the odds, each at -110.
This is a changed USMNT compared to the team that fell 5-2 to Belgium in a March friendly. Under Mauricio Pochettino’s guidance, the squad has pushed through to the Round of 16 and aims for its first quarterfinal since 2002.
A surprising development came Sunday when FIFA lifted striker Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension from his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This means the tournament's leading scorer for the U.S. will be available for the crucial match against Belgium.
Belgium advanced after a nail-biting late rally to defeat Senegal in the previous round. Their recent World Cup performances vary widely: a group stage exit, a third-place finish, and a quarterfinal appearance.
