Egypt faces defending champion Argentina in historic World Cup Round of 16 clash as Nordic giants Norway eliminate Brazil in major tournament upset.
Lead:
The FIFA World Cup 2026 reaches its knockout stages with high-stakes encounters reshaping the tournament landscape. Egypt advances to face Argentina after an unbeaten group stage performance, marking the nation's first victory in World Cup history. Meanwhile, unexpected challengers emerge as Norway stuns five-time champion Brazil, while Belgium defeats the United States 4-1 and England eliminates Mexico despite playing with reduced personnel.
Top Stories:
Egypt vs. Argentina Round of 16 — The Egyptian national team faces defending World Cup champion Argentina in a matchup featuring Argentine forward Lionel Messi. Egypt seeks to build on an undefeated group stage campaign, while head coach Hosam Hassan prepares tactical surprises against the favored South Americans in Atlanta.Norway's Historic Victory Over Brazil — Norway eliminates five-time World Cup champion Brazil 2-0, producing one of the tournament's greatest upsets. Forward Erling Haalland delivers another match-winning performance as the Nordic nation advances unexpectedly to the quarterfinals, shocking football observers worldwide.Belgium Defeats United States 4-1 — Belgium secures a comprehensive knockout-stage victory over the United States despite controversies surrounding American forward Folarin Balogun's eligibility and potential political interference. The Belgian squad advances to face Spain in the quarterfinals following the dominant home-ground performance in Seattle.Cristiano Ronaldo's Final World Cup Campaign — Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo confirms the 2026 World Cup will be his last international competition, with reports suggesting he underwhelmed against France before Portugal faces Spain in the Round of 16. Spanish goalkeeper substitution in the final moments results in Portugal's 1-0 elimination as Ronaldo's tournament ends emotionally.England Advances Despite Red Card Dismissal — England progresses past Mexico 3-2 in a Round of 16 encounter played with numerical disadvantage following a player's expulsion. The victory extends England's knockout-stage hopes heading into quarterfinal competition.What to Watch:
Switzerland confronts Colombia in the Round of 16 as the knockout stages conclude their opening matches. France prepares for Morocco competition while navigating midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni's fitness concerns following his thigh injury suffered in the Paraguay fixture.