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The knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is well underway, with 32 remaining teams battling it out for a coveted spot in the round of 16. Global powerhouses are bracing for tough final 32 matchups, while underdog nations are gearing up to pull off one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

As the tournament progresses, it has already delivered no shortage of talking points, from record-breaking individual performances to surprising off-pitch narratives that have captured global attention. Seven teams have already secured their place in the round of 16, with others still fighting to join them on July 1.

### Key Upcoming Final 32 Matchups
Among the most anticipated clashes is England’s first-ever meeting with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions look to keep their title bid on track. England has limited knockout stage experience against African sides at the World Cup: their only prior knockout matchup against an African nation was a 3-0 win over Senegal in 2022, and they also beat Egypt and Cameroon during their run to the semi-finals in 1990. Still, the side has shown visible vulnerability in recent meetings with African opposition, including a draw against Ghana and a pre-tournament friendly loss to Senegal.

Belgium, ranked 9th in the FIFA World Rankings, will face off against 15th-ranked Senegal in Seattle on Wednesday in the first official meeting between the two nations. Belgium has lost just one of six all-time World Cup matches against African countries, while Senegal has dropped its last four World Cup games against European opposition.

The United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina for the fourth time in international play, holding an undefeated record of two wins and one draw against the side. However, the USMNT has struggled against European opposition at recent World Cups, with just one win in its last 21 matches against European teams.

### Teams Already Through to the Round of 16
Seven nations have already booked their spot in the last 16, after wrapping up their final 32 matches: Canada earned a 1-0 win over South Africa, Brazil defeated Japan 2-1, Paraguay knocked out Germany on penalties following a 1-1 draw, Morocco advanced past the Netherlands also on penalties after a 1-1 draw, Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1, France cruised past Sweden 3-0, and Mexico secured a 2-0 win over Ecuador. The defeated sides – South Africa, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Ivory Coast, Sweden and Ecuador – have all been eliminated from the tournament.

### Defending Champions Warned Against Underestimating Debutant Cape Verde
Reigning World Cup champions Argentina are preparing for their final 32 matchup against tournament first-timers Cape Verde, and head coach Lionel Scaloni has issued a stark warning against underestimating the underdog. Cape Verde has already turned heads on its debut, holding both Spain and Uruguay to draws in the group stage, proving it can compete with the world’s best. “They are a good team and they will make things very difficult for us,” Scaloni said of the matchup, highlighting the growing trend of smaller, lesser-ranked nations challenging global giants with organized tactics and relentless determination that has defined this year’s World Cup.

Cape Verde’s president Jose Maria Neves has added to the underdog excitement, saying he is 100 percent certain his side can pull off a historic upset over the defending champions. The statement reflects the widespread national pride surrounding Cape Verde’s first ever World Cup appearance, with the entire nation hoping to cement their place in World Cup history with a win that would go down as one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Even a strong performance against Argentina would mark a major milestone for the small island nation and earn it long-awaited international recognition.

### Milestones and Records
Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador delivered a historic milestone for the nation, securing a spot in the round of 16 – known domestically as “el quinto partido” (the fifth match) – for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1986. The match was delayed for an hour by severe stormy weather, but the disruption did nothing to throw Mexico off its game, as the side maintained full control throughout 90 minutes. Mexico will next face the winner of the England-DRC matchup, setting the stage for another exciting knockout round clash.

France also made history in its 3-0 win over Sweden, with star forward Kylian Mbappé netting two goals to bring his total number of World Cup knockout stage goals to 10, setting a new all-time tournament record. The result also saw head coach Didier Deschamps break the record for the most World Cup wins as a head coach, cementing France’s status as one of the favorites to lift the trophy this year. Les Bleus will face Paraguay in their next knockout round match.

### Off-Pitch Storylines
Beyond the action on the pitch, the 2026 World Cup hosted in North America has brought unique cultural challenges for traveling fans. Many international supporters from across Europe, Asia and Oceania have spoken out about the unexpected financial strain of the United States’ tipping culture, where gratuity is expected for even small purchases like snacks and drinks. The differing cultural norms have sparked widespread conversation about expected costs and affordability for fans traveling to the tournament.

Following the Netherlands’ early penalty-shootout elimination at the hands of Morocco, head coach Ronald Koeman announced he would step down from his role as national team manager. His resignation came shortly after three Dutch players were targeted with racist abuse on social media following the loss. Koeman expressed pride in his tenure leading the national side but acknowledged the deep disappointment of the early exit, marking a new beginning for the Dutch program after years of consistent international success.

Ecuador has also filed an official complaint with FIFA following incidents ahead of its defeat to Mexico, after videos showed hundreds of Mexican fans gathering outside Ecuador’s team hotel hours before kickoff, using loud music, chanting and fireworks in an attempt to intimidate the opposition. While such tactics are not uncommon in rival matches across Latin America, Ecuador argues the actions undermined their team’s preparation and raised safety concerns ahead of the match.

Adding a layer of cultural mystique to the highly anticipated Argentina-Cape Verde matchup, prominent Ghanaian spiritual leader Nana Kwaku Bonsam has grabbed global headlines with his prediction that Cape Verde will pull off the upset. Bonsam is well known for previous high-profile claims, including an alleged curse placed on England captain Harry Kane ahead of the 2022 World Cup. While there is no empirical evidence to support supernatural influence on match results, the prediction highlights the rich cultural context that surrounds the World Cup, showcasing how the tournament transcends sport to become a global event woven into local beliefs, hope and culture.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage got off to a dramatic start for CONCACAF hosts Mexico, who secured a dominant 2-0 victory over Ecuador to book their place in the tournament’s round of 16. The encounter at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium was overshadowed by severe weather before kickoff, with thunderstorms and lightning forcing organizers to delay the start of the match by more than an hour. Once play finally got underway, it took Mexico just 31 minutes to put the result beyond doubt, with two early goals from forwards Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez sealing their win.

El Tri came out of the gates flying, putting Ecuador under relentless pressure from the opening whistle. Both sides committed to an up-tempo, attack-focused style of play that produced an entertaining, end-to-end first half, but it was Mexico that held all the momentum. The host nation controlled proceedings through sharper combination play, solid midfield possession, and lightning-quick transitions when they won back the ball, creating the majority of dangerous scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes.

Mexico’s early pressure was rewarded in the 22nd minute, when Roberto Alvarado played a perfectly timed pass to put Quiñones in a prime scoring position, and the forward coolly finished off the well-crafted attacking move to open the scoring. Less than 10 minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage, with Quiñones turning provider this time to set up Jiménez, who fired home to put Mexico up 2-0 before the half-hour mark.

Ecuador pushed hard for a response, with star players Enner Valencia, Moisés Caicedo and teenage prospect Kendry Páez leading the charge to get back into the game. But Mexico’s organized defense held firm, conceding very few clear-cut opportunities. While Ecuador put in plenty of effort in the attacking third, they lacked the final precision needed to trouble Mexico’s backline and force a change in the game’s trajectory.

After halftime, Ecuador continued to push for a much-needed connection goal to get back into contention, but Mexico maintained calm control of the match. El Tri dropped into a compact defensive shape, closed off all passing lanes, and sat back to threaten on the counterattack without taking unnecessary risks that would leave them exposed. As the clock ticked down, Ecuador’s growing frustration boiled over into disciplinary trouble: the side picked up multiple yellow cards in the closing stages, and defender Piero Hincapié was sent off with a straight red card deep in stoppage time for a brutal late tackle. Alan Franco and Moisés Caicedo also received cautions for their side.

For Mexico, the win keeps alive their long-held dream of breaking a decades-long tournament curse. As one of three co-hosts of this year’s World Cup, El Tri is desperate to end what is commonly known as the “fifth game syndrome”: since the 1986 World Cup, which Mexico also hosted, the national side has never advanced past the round of 16 to the quarterfinals, despite qualifying for the knockout stage on multiple occasions. Wednesday’s win extended Mexico’s perfect tournament run so far: they won all three of their group stage matches without conceding a single goal, carrying that dominant form into the knockout round.

For Ecuador, the 2026 World Cup run comes to an end, despite a respectable and impressive campaign. The South American side qualified for the knockout stage as one of the stronger third-place teams, and they earned widespread praise for their upset win over Germany in the group stage. However, they were ultimately outmatched by a clinical, mature Mexican side that took its chances and closed out the win comfortably.

Mexico will now turn its attention to its next challenge: in the round of 16, they will face off against the winner of the final group stage match between England and DR Congo.

France has secured a convincing place in the World Cup Round of 16 after a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden, with star forward Kylian Mbappé once again stealing the spotlight by scoring two crucial goals. The French attacking line, featuring Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, proved far too quick, technically gifted and dangerous for Sweden’s backline to handle. Sweden struggled to break France’s relentless pressure throughout the 90 minutes, while Les Bleus controlled the match with mature composure and advanced to the knockout stage without any major scares.

The first dangerous attempt of the match came from Sweden’s star striker Alexander Isak, but it quickly became clear that France was on track to clear this hurdle with ease. The French side dominated possession, pushed Sweden all the way back into their own penalty area, and launched a sustained offensive barrage. France’s first shot on goal arrived in the 15th minute from left back Lucas Digne, but Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Zetterström made a comfortable save. A minute later, Zetterström easily gathered another effort from Mbappé, with no trouble keeping the score level.

In the 19th minute, Bradley Barcola charged toward goal on a dangerous break, but fired an uncontrolled shot over the crossbar. Just 60 seconds later, Mbappé appeared to slip past Sweden’s offside trap and beat Zetterström to the ball, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside. The flurry of early chances France created served as a clear wake-up call for the Swedish side, and the upcoming water break was a welcome relief for Sweden’s fatigued players, as well as an opportunity for their coaching staff to rearrange tactics and reverse the match’s momentum.

Immediately after the water break, France kept up the intense pressure on Sweden’s goal, though the Scandinavian side’s defense held firm for the time being. Minutes later, Mbappé looked set to open the scoring after receiving a through ball from Jules Koundé, but his effort clattered off the goalpost. Chances continued to come thick and fast for Les Bleus: a spectacular overhead kick from Michael Olise also bounced off the post, and Dembélé’s follow-up shot drifted wide of the target. On Sweden’s rare counterattacks, the duo of Anthony Elanga and Isak reminded the crowd that the match was not one-way traffic, but they also failed to find the back of the net. Olise saw another 44th-minute attempt go unrewarded, until Mbappé outwitted the Swedish defense in first-half stoppage time to put France ahead.

After the halftime break, France picked up right where they left off, continuing to pile relentless pressure on Sweden’s vulnerable defense. Off a pinpoint assist from Olise, Barcola doubled France’s lead to 2-0, breaking the last of Sweden’s resistance. After going down two goals, Sweden could only muster a few scattered attacking moves and never seriously threatened to get back into the game. France continued to create additional scoring opportunities, but it was not until the 74th minute that Mbappé put the match completely out of reach, slotting home his second of the game to make the final score 3-0.

Late in the match, Sweden’s Viktor Gyokeres had a golden opportunity to grab a consolation goal from close range, but he failed to convert. With this dominant victory, France books their place in the knockout stage of the World Cup, while Sweden’s tournament run comes to an end. With his two goals against Sweden, Mbappé now draws level with Lionel Messi as the tournament’s joint top scorer, with both players having netted six goals so far.

By Mireille Hoepel

A dramatic late finish at the men’s World Cup saw Norway secure a spot in the round of 16 on Monday, courtesy of a late match-winning goal from star striker Erling Haaland that sealed a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast. With the fixture seemingly on course to go to extra time after both sides had settled into a 1-1 draw, Haaland struck with just four minutes left on the clock to break Ivory Coast’s brave resistance and book his nation’s place in the knockout stage.

From the opening kickoff, Ivory Coast dominated possession and put together sharp, organized build-up play that forced Norway to drop deep into their own half to avoid conceding an early opener. The African side wasted no time creating their first clear chance: as early as the 7th minute, Nicolas Pépé found himself unmarked behind Norway’s defensive line, but he stumbled the opportunity after being caught off guard by the space he had been afforded. In the 21st minute, Ghislain Konan had another promising opening to put Ivory Coast ahead, but his effort drifted just wide of the right post.

After the mandatory hydration break, Pépé was handed another golden opportunity, this time from a perfectly weighted through ball by Yan Diomandé. Once again, the winger failed to convert, letting Norway off the hook. Norway’s first clear chance did not come until the 37th minute, when Alexander Sørloth picked out Haaland inside the box, but the Manchester City striker’s header lacked the power needed to beat Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana. Two minutes later, Antonio Nusa broke the deadlock with a well-placed diagonal shot that beat Fofana at his near post, putting Norway ahead 1-0. Haaland thought he had doubled Norway’s lead just moments before halftime, but Ibrahim Sangaré made a critical goal-line block to keep the scoreline at 1-0 going into the break.

In the second half, Ivory Coast continued to push for an equalizer, and came close in the 55th minute when Pépé’s shot was blocked by Norway’s goalkeeper. The African side finally got their equalizer in the 74th minute, when substitute Ahmad Diollo pulled off a spectacular individual run before finishing with a clinical strike to level the score at 1-1. Over the following 12 minutes, both sides traded half-chances but neither could find a decisive breakthrough, leaving most observers expecting 30 minutes of extra time to decide the winner.

That was until the 86th minute, when Haaland – who had been largely quiet throughout the match up to that point – was on hand to tap home a low cross from close range, securing a 2-1 win for Norway. The result means Norway progresses to the tournament’s round of 16, while Ivory Coast, despite a valiant and energetic performance, exits the competition, punished for their profligacy in front of goal that saw them waste multiple clear chances throughout the 90 minutes.