2026 World Cup Knockout Stage: Matches for Day 22 and Predictions
Thursday, July 2, 2026, delivered another exciting day in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage
Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland lived up to expectations, secured their places in the next round, and advanced with solid and efficient performances.
Spain 3–0 Austria (Los Angeles, USA)
Spain justified its status as the favorite by dominating most of the match. Controlling possession, creating numerous scoring opportunities, and finishing clinically, the Spanish side cruised to a convincing 3–0 victory. Austria relied on disciplined defending and quick counterattacks but struggled to break through Spain's well-organized defense.
Match summary: Spain controlled the game from start to finish, dictating possession, creating consistent attacking chances, and delivering a complete performance to comfortably secure qualification.
Portugal 2–1 Croatia (Toronto, Canada)
Portugal booked its place in the next round after overcoming a resilient Croatian side. In a closely contested match, Portugal made the most of its chances to claim a 2–1 victory. Croatia showcased its midfield quality and pushed for an equalizer until the closing stages, making Portugal work hard for the win.
Match summary: An intense and competitive contest with momentum shifting throughout the game. Portugal enjoyed more possession, while Croatia threatened on quick transitions. Portugal's clinical finishing ultimately proved decisive.
Switzerland 2–0 Algeria (Vancouver, Canada)
Switzerland produced another disciplined display to defeat Algeria 2–0. Organized defensively and composed in possession, the Swiss controlled the tempo, limited Algeria's attacking threats, and capitalized on their scoring opportunities. Algeria showed determination but struggled to break down the Swiss defense.
Match summary: After an evenly balanced opening, Switzerland gradually took control, managed the game confidently, and sealed a deserved victory to advance to the next round.
