Portugal and Spain hold final training sessions before World Cup last-16 match; Anthony Taylor appointed referee

Training updates

Portugal held their final training session at Centennial Park in Toronto on Saturday, with eight players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, limited to gym recovery work. Only three of the 11 starters from the 2-1 win over Croatia, João Cancelo, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes, took to the pitch for warm-ups. The eight who began in the gym were goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, João Neves, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão and Ronaldo. The Portuguese Football Federation said all 27 squad members were expected to be available later in the session. Over 1,000 fans gathered, some attempting to peer under barriers or form human pyramids, before police extended the security perimeter. Ronaldo briefly emerged to wave to supporters holding Portugal and Madeira flags. The squad was due to travel to Dallas later on Saturday.

Spain's session saw Lamine Yamal, Aymeric Laporte, Pedro Porro and Nico Williams confined to the gym. Spanish media reported the absences were part of a load-management plan, not injury-related, and all four are expected to be fit for Monday.

Referee appointment

FIFA named English referee Anthony Taylor to officiate the last-16 tie. The 47-year-old will be assisted by compatriots Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, with Germany's Felix Zwayer as fourth official and Robert Kempter as reserve. The VAR team will be confirmed 24 hours before kick-off. Taylor has taken charge of two matches at this World Cup: Colombia's 3-1 win over Uzbekistan and Senegal's 5-0 victory against Iraq, where he sent off an Iraqi player in the 13th minute. His record with Portugal includes two wins, a 5-0 qualifying victory in Armenia and a 2-0 play-off win over North Macedonia that secured a place at Qatar 2022, and two defeats, against Germany (4-2 at Euro 2020) and Ukraine (2-1 in Euro qualifying).

Match context

Portugal reached the knockout stage by beating Croatia 2-1 in Toronto on Thursday. Ivan Perisic put Croatia ahead in the 53rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo equalised from the penalty spot in the 68th, and Gonçalo Ramos struck the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simón told a press conference he does not fear Ronaldo, while acknowledging the Portugal captain's enduring threat. He also highlighted the quality of Portugal's left flank.

He is no longer the same player as in previous seasons, but he remains decisive in attack.

Road to the match

The match kicks off at 20:00 local time on Monday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals of the first 48-team World Cup, which runs until 19 July across the United States, Mexico and Canada.