The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup continued with dramatic action as France and Morocco secured their places in the quarterfinals, while attention now shifts to Sunday’s highly anticipated Round of 16 matches featuring Brazil and Mexico.
France edges Paraguay to reach quarterfinals
Defending European powerhouse France booked its place in the quarterfinals after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia.
Captain Kylian Mbappé scored the decisive goal in a tightly contested match, helping Les Bleus overcome Paraguay’s disciplined defensive performance. The victory keeps France on course for another deep World Cup run.
Morocco dominates Canada
Morocco delivered one of the tournament’s most convincing performances by defeating Canada 3-0 in Houston.
The African side controlled the match from start to finish, producing an impressive attacking display to comfortably secure a place in the last eight.
Argentina survives thrilling encounter
Argentina advanced after an exciting 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in Miami.
Lionel Messi once again played a leading role, extending his World Cup scoring record as the reigning South American champions survived a determined challenge from Cape Verde.
Colombia, Egypt and Switzerland also advance
Other Round of 16 results included:
- Colombia 1-0 Ghana in Kansas City.
- Egypt defeated Australia on penalties (4-2) after a 1-1 draw.
- Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver.
With those victories, all six teams secured their places in the quarterfinal bracket.
Today’s Matches
Two major Round of 16 encounters headline Sunday’s schedule:
Brazil vs Norway
Kickoff: 5:00 PM (local time)
Venue: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Five-time world champions Brazil face a dangerous Norwegian squad led by star striker Erling Haaland in one of the tournament’s most anticipated knockout matches.
Mexico vs England
Kickoff: 8:00 PM (local time)
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Co-host Mexico hopes to capitalize on home support as it attempts to reach the quarterfinals against an experienced England side.
Upcoming Round of 16 Fixtures
The remaining knockout matches include:
- Spain vs Portugal — July 6
- United States vs Belgium — July 6
- Argentina vs Egypt — July 7
- Switzerland vs Colombia — July 7
Quarterfinals Begin July 9
The FIFA World Cup quarterfinals are scheduled to begin on July 9, with France and Morocco already securing their places among the tournament’s final eight teams.
As the knockout stage continues, the race for football’s biggest prize becomes increasingly competitive, with traditional powerhouses and emerging contenders battling for a place in the semifinals.
Source: ACT News | FIFA World Cup 2026 Coverage.
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