Canada hosts World Cup Round of 32 matches as Spain, Portugal advance

Canada hosts FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 matches in Toronto & Vancouver as Spain & Portugal advance. Get the latest on these thrilling North America

By Liam Tremblay — 3 July 2026 — 3 min read

North American Cities Host Key Matches

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 continued with three matches on Thursday, July 2, hosted across North America. These games featured prominent teams like Spain and Portugal, with matches taking place in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vancouver. The day’s schedule included Spain against Austria, Portugal facing Croatia, and Switzerland playing Algeria.

Los Angeles Stadium in Los Angeles, California, was the venue for the Spain versus Austria match. Later, Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, hosted the clash between Portugal and Croatia. The final game of the day saw Switzerland take on Algeria at BC Place Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Spain and Portugal Secure Victories

Spain advanced to the next round after defeating Austria 3-0. Mikel Oyarzabal scored Spain’s first goal in the 36th minute. Pedro Porro added a second goal in the 66th minute with a header, and Oyarzabal scored his second goal in the 89th minute, securing the 3-0 victory. Spain entered the knockout rounds unbeaten, having topped Group H without conceding any goals in three matches. Austria had advanced as Group J’s runner-up, notably drawing 3-3 with Algeria in their group finale. Atlético Madrid’s Baena was highlighted as a key player for Spain, having been named Man of the Match in a previous 1-0 win over Uruguay.

Portugal also secured a spot in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Croatia. The match in Toronto was tied 1-1 before Gonçalo Ramos scored for Portugal in the 94th minute. Croatia had an equalizer disallowed after a VAR review in the 103rd minute, confirming Portugal’s victory. Ivan Perišić had put Croatia ahead 1-0 in the second half, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first knockout round goal to tie the match. Ronaldo was substituted in the 81st minute, with Ruben Neves entering the game. Portugal finished Group K unbeaten with one win and two draws, placing them as runner-up behind Colombia. Croatia had previously experienced a 4-2 loss to England but rebounded with two wins against Panama and Ghana. Fernandes was noted as a central figure in Portugal’s midfield, crucial for maintaining the team’s energetic play.

Switzerland vs. Algeria Matchup

The third match of the day featured Switzerland against Algeria. Switzerland topped Group B with two wins and a draw, scoring seven goals and conceding three in the group stage. Algeria, after a 3-0 loss to Argentina, rallied to beat Jordan and draw 3-3 with Austria, qualifying for the knockout rounds as one of the best third-place finishers. Manzambi, a 20-year-old midfielder for Switzerland, was identified as a top young player in the tournament, having scored three goals and provided an assist in the group stage. He was also named the Europa League Young Player of the Season for 2025-26 and played a significant role in Switzerland’s 2-1 win over Canada.

USMNT Viewership Records

Meanwhile, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) set new viewership records. Their Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday attracted 24.429 million viewers, surpassing their previous record of over 18 million viewers for their group stage opener against Paraguay. The game peaked at 31.883 million viewers between 9:45 and 10 p.m. ET, making it the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in U.S. history. The USMNT’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina set up a Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle on July 6.

The knockout rounds have already seen the elimination of teams like Germany and the Netherlands, making the tournament appear more open than in recent years. The remaining teams are now vying for a spot in the Round of 16, with every play being critical.

All World Cup matches are broadcast on FOX and FS1, with streaming available on FOX One, while Spanish-language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock.