Portugal Triumphs Amid VAR Controversy to Set Up Clash with Spain

Portugal advanced to the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeating Croatia 2-1, amid contentious decisions by the Video Assistant Referee. Although Croatia's two potential goals were disallowed, Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez defended the VAR's correctness, with his side set to face Spain next.

In a tense encounter, Portugal overcame Croatia 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, a match marked by contentious Video Assistant Referee (VAR) interventions. Despite Croatia having two goals annulled, Portugal's head coach, Roberto Martinez, upheld the validity of the decisions, emphasizing the referee's accuracy, as reported by Reuters.

The game witnessed Croatia initially take the lead through Ivan Perisic, who achieved the distinction of becoming the nation's all-time top World Cup scorer. However, the stalwart Cristiano Ronaldo leveled the score through a penalty, awarded post a VAR review, before Goncalo Ramos clinched the win for Portugal with his stoppage-time header.

Looking forward to a thrilling encounter, Martinez expressed admiration for Spain, Portugal's next opponents, promising a high-caliber showdown against the European champions. Adding a touch of humor, Martinez noted the game’s stress levels by joking about his hair loss. The match also signified the potential World Cup swan song for Croatia's Luka Modric.