World Cup Round of 16: Iberian Derby and Belgium-USA Amid Controversy
Tonight at 10 PM Latvia time, Portugal and Spain clash in a historic derby, while at 3 AM the USA face Belgium in a match overshadowed by FIFA's decision to rescind Balogun's suspension.
Portugal vs Spain: Iberian Neighbors in World Cup Showdown
At 22:00 Latvia time, the World Cup round of 16 kicks off with an Iberian derby as Portugal takes on Spain. The match will be broadcast live on TV6.
The two sides first met in 1928 and have since played 41 times. Spain leads the head-to-head with 17 wins, Portugal has six, and 18 matches ended in draws. In World Cup finals, they have met twice: Spain won 1-0 in 2010, and they drew 3-3 in 2018.
Their most recent encounter was the 2025 Nations League final, which Portugal won. Portugal's star Cristiano Ronaldo has scored four goals against Spain in his career and three in this tournament. Spain's top scorer is Mikel Oyarzabal with four goals.
Spain cruised past Austria 3-0 in the previous round, while Portugal struggled against Croatia, scraping through after a controversial VAR decision in stoppage time.
USA vs Belgium: Controversy Overshadows Clash
At 3:00 AM Latvia time, the USA meet Belgium on Go3 platform. The match is marred by off-field drama: FIFA's Disciplinary Committee rescinded a red card suspension for USA striker Folarin Balogun, earned against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Belgium's federation had a chance to appeal but significant changes are unlikely.
Reports indicate US President Donald Trump contacted FIFA leadership over the issue. Critics include former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and UEFA representatives.
The teams first met in the 1930 World Cup opener, a 3-0 USA win. Since then, Belgium has dominated with six straight wins. Their last official meeting was the 2014 World Cup round of 16, where Belgium won 2-1 in extra time. In March, Belgium won a friendly 5-2.
Belgium's top scorers in this tournament are Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, and Youri Tielemans with two goals each. USA's top scorer is Balogun with three. The USA reached the round of 16 by beating Bosnia 2-0, while Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2.
