USA vs. Belgium and Spain vs. Portugal Headline World Cup Round of 16 Today

Today is one of the biggest days of the 2026 World Cup — and if you care even a little about soccer, you'll want to clear your Monday schedule.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially entered the Round of 16 — the second knockout round in what is a newly expanded, 48-team tournament. That means every game from here on out is sudden death: lose and you go home. No second chances.

Two massive matchups are on the docket today, July 6. First up: Spain vs. Portugal at 3 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Then, at 8 p.m. ET, the United States takes on Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle — and if you're an American soccer fan, this one hits especially close to home.

Let's break down how each team got here.

How the USA Got to the Round of 16

The U.S. men's national team punched their ticket to the Round of 16 by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on July 1 — but it wasn't without drama. Forward Folarin Balogun scored before picking up a red card, meaning he'll be suspended for today's Belgium match. That's a significant blow — Balogun has been one of the USMNT's brightest players this tournament. The Americans will need to find a way to replace that firepower without him.

Belgium, meanwhile, had arguably the wildest game of the Round of 32. They came back from the brink against Senegal, scoring twice late in regulation to force extra time, then converting a controversial VAR-awarded penalty kick to win 3-2. Belgium's so-called "golden generation" — veterans like Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans — are making one last push for a deep World Cup run.

Here's the kicker for American fans: the USA and Belgium have history. They faced each other in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup, with Belgium winning that one in extra time. And in a tune-up match earlier this year, Belgium beat the U.S. 5-2. The odds are virtually dead even — FanDuel lists the USA to advance at -118, Belgium at -104 — so this one is truly anybody's game.

The Iberian Derby: Spain vs. Portugal

If USA-Belgium is a thriller, Spain vs. Portugal is appointment television on another level. These two neighboring nations — who share the Iberian Peninsula — have faced each other over 40 times, but this is only their third-ever World Cup meeting. Spain won when they met in 2010 (the same year Spain won it all), and they drew in 2018.

Spain has been the most dominant team in the tournament so far — they haven't conceded a single goal yet, and they rolled past Austria 3-0 in the Round of 32. Young superstar Lamine Yamal has been healthy and dangerous. The oddsmakers agree: Spain is favored to advance at -225.

Portugal got past Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring on a penalty and Gonçalo Ramos netting the winner in stoppage time. It was a nervy, unglamorous win — Portugal has looked inconsistent, and questions about Ronaldo's role continue to swirl.

Why It Matters Beyond Today

Here's the bigger picture: the winner of Spain vs. Portugal will face the winner of USA vs. Belgium in the quarterfinals on July 10 in Los Angeles. So today's results don't just determine who advances — they set up the entire quarterfinal bracket on that side of the draw.

Elsewhere, the tournament has already delivered major shocks. Brazil — yes, Brazil — was eliminated by Norway on Sunday, one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Germany and the Netherlands are also already out. The field is wide open, and the path to the final on July 19 in New Jersey runs right through today's action.