Spain makes history: First team to record six consecutive World Cup clean sheets
Arlington: Spain has etched its name into the history books at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first team ever to register six consecutive clean sheets in the tournament. The milestone was achieved during Tuesday's hard-fought 1-0 Round of 16 victory over Portugal at the Dallas Stadium, where a late strike from Mikel Merino finally broke the deadlock and secured La Roja's passage to the quarter-finals.
A Historic Defensive Wall
Spain’s historic run saw them break a tie with Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-10), both of whom had previously held the record for the most consecutive World Cup matches without conceding a goal.
ALSO READ: Heartbreaking scene! Yamal hugs Ronaldo after Spain ends Portugal's WC run
The defensive streak dates back to the 2022 edition in Qatar, beginning with a 0-0 draw against Morocco in the Round of 16. In the current 2026 tournament, Spain has maintained a flawless defensive record, opening with a goalless draw against Cape Verde before embarking on a series of shutout victories to reach the final eight.
Simón’s Record-Breaking Heroics
Central to this defensive masterclass is goalkeeper Unai Simón. Simón has extended his personal record for the longest shutout streak in World Cup history, now reaching 609 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal.
During the match against Portugal, Simón was called into action early, producing a critical diving save to deny Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half. His performance was lauded by Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who noted, as cited by Newsday: “This record is the result of all of his teammates as well. Their solidarity, their generosity, their effort, their sacrifice. Everybody runs for one another.”
Simón had previously surpassed the long-standing record of 517 minutes set by Italian legend Walter Zenga in 1990 during Spain’s 3-0 Round of 32 victory over Austria last Friday.
ALSO READ: Unai Simón makes World Cup history
Looking Ahead
With the win over Portugal, Spain continues its journey in the 2026 World Cup with its defensive integrity intact. As the tournament moves into the quarter-final stages, the challenge for Spain will be to maintain this unprecedented level of focus and solidarity as they chase the world title. For Portugal, the defeat marks a bittersweet end to the tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing what he has confirmed will be his final World Cup.