+ Portugal–Spain, Monday, 9:00 p.m.
Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas.
TV4/P4 Radio Sport
+ Ronaldo's last dance?
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved a lot in his career. But before the national team's round of 32 match against Croatia, the striker had never scored in a World Cup knockout match. Against Croatia, he scored a penalty to tie the match 1-1.
Now the gold favourite Spain awaits, in what could be Ronaldo's last World Cup match.
"Yes, definitely," he answered in November when asked if this was his last World Cup.
+ The record goalkeeper was not a given
Spain have kept a clean sheet in their first four World Cup matches. After their 3-0 win in the round of 32 against Austria, Unai Simón made history as the first player to play 519 minutes at a World Cup without conceding a goal. He was last beaten at a World Cup against Japan in Qatar 2022.
Despite the record, his starting spot was not a given. Behind him are Arsenal's David Raya – who kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League – and Barcelona's Joan García.
"I'm absolutely certain that we have the best goalkeeper trio in the tournament. As I said, my record could just as easily have been broken by David or Joan," Simón said ahead of the Portugal match, according to AS.
+ USA–Belgium, Tuesday, 2:00 AM.
Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington.
TV4/P4 Radio Sport
+ Striker star's suspension lifted – Donald Trump thanked Fifa
USA forward Folarin Balogun was sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina after stamping on Tarik Muharemovic – a decision that was widely debated. The result was a one-match suspension.
But on Sunday afternoon, Swedish time, there was a twist. Then Fifa announced that the suspension had been lifted. According to The Athletic, Fifa is leaning on an article in the regulations that gives the judging body the right to postpone the execution of a disciplinary sanction.
The decision was welcomed by US President Donald Trump.
“Thank you Fifa for doing the right thing and righting a great injustice,” he wrote on Truth Social.
+ Belgium's heroic turnaround
It looked like Belgium would be eliminated in the round of 32 against Senegal for a long time. But after two goals in the space of three minutes, Youri Tielemans converted a penalty in the 125th minute. The question is, was that the moment that brought Belgium to life in the World Cup?
"It's something I've never experienced as a player before. It was a lot to take in at once, and in a moment like that you really feel alive," defender Maxim De Cuyper said, according to Sporza, continuing:
The match against Senegal has given us the confidence to go even further.
