Portugal get their revenge on Spain — this time in cricket — after FIFA World Cup heartbreak

Portugal have found a novel way to settle old scores with Spain following their devastating loss in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Just over a month after Cristiano Ronaldo and his team were eliminated by Spain in July, Portugal struck back on the cricket field. In the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-Regional Qualifier C in 2026, Portugal defeated Spain by 57 runs, preventing them from reaching the 2028 T20 World Cup.

The football match had taken place in July, with Portugal suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the Round of 16 at Dallas Stadium. This time, however, Portugal got the upper hand, defeating Spain and keeping their dream of qualifying for the T20 World Cup alive. Led by Moises Henriques, Portugal put on a composed display to secure the crucial victory.

Spain captain Christian Munoz-Mills won the toss but opted to field, and Portugal managed to post a competitive total of 160/6. Henriques contributed 18 runs but fell short of making a significant impact. The home side accelerated late in their innings, with Craig Cachopa scoring 25 off 21 balls and Carlos Nunes adding 15 off nine.

Jeremy Martins provided the crucial final push with an unbeaten 18 off just eight deliveries. Spain's bowling attack, spearheaded by Yasir Ali and Lorne Burns, took wickets at regular intervals, reducing Spain to 32/3. Ultimately, Portugal's bowlers tightened their grip on the game, with Siraj Ullah Khadem taking the early breakthrough and Edward Fleming delivering a three-wicket haul for just 13 runs.

The victory sees Portugal advance to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier in 2027, moving them closer to a spot in the global qualifier for the 2028 T20 World Cup. Portugal joins Jersey and Denmark in the Europe Qualifier, while Scotland qualifies directly due to exceptional circumstances surrounding their participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Italy and the Netherlands advance directly to the Global Qualifier. For Portugal, this cricket victory provides a delightful twist to their ongoing sporting rivalry with Spain, as Spain won the football match, but Portugal claimed the cricket rematch.