local
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal survive late drama and everything else to know from Thursday’s World Cup matches
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 2, 2026
· 8 min read
By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN
(CNN) — The first game on Thursday and the last one were pretty straightforward affairs for Spain and Switzerland.
But in between, Portugal and Croatia served up yet another helping of World Cup drama that will be hard to forget.
Here’s everything to know a...
Key takeaway Here’s everything to know about Thursday’s Round of 32 matches: Portugal survives Croatia on another controversial decision, 2-1 At 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo had a long time to wait to finally score in a World Cup knockout round.
Why this matters in The El Paso
For El Paso soccer fans, Spain's dominant performance against Austria is a welcome sight, especially given the city's strong affinity for the sport. As the World Cup progresses, local bars and restaurants will likely be filled with fans cheering on their favorite teams, including Spain, which has a significant following in the El Paso area. The city's Hispanic heritage and cultural ties to Spain and other Latin American countries contribute to a passionate and knowledgeable fan base. With Spain moving on to the Round of 16, El Pasoans can expect to see more intense matchups and spirited viewing parties around the city, showcasing the community's love for the beautiful game. As the tournament advances, it will be interesting to see how local fans react to Spain's upcoming match against the winner of Portugal and Croatia, and whether the team can continue its winning streak.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 8 min
Get more The El Paso stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN
(CNN) — The first game on Thursday and the last one were pretty straightforward affairs for Spain and Switzerland.
But in between, Portugal and Croatia served up yet another helping of World Cup drama that will be hard to forget.
Here’s everything to know a...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter