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France captain Kylian Mbappe moved to within one goal of Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup scoring record after converting a second-half penalty to secure a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 on early Sunday. Mbappe calmly slotted home from the spot in the 70th minute after Paraguay's Diego Gomez was penalized for tripping him following a video review. The goal was Mbappe's 19th in 19 World Cup appearances, leaving him just one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who scored his 20th World Cup goal in Argentina's 3-2 win over Cape Verde on Friday. The strike also took Mbappe's tally to seven goals in this year's tournament, drawing level with Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the competition's top scorer. France coach Didier Deschamps praised his captain's leadership and commitment after the match. "He has shown the right attitude from the very beginning and gives everything for the team," Deschamps said. "He is an outstanding player, and when he speaks, he speaks for the entire group." Mbappe also became the first player to score at least three goals in the knockout stages of three different World Cups. The match was fiercely contested, with several physical challenges directed at the France forward. Tensions flared in the first half after Paraguay's Andres Cubas fouled Mbappe, triggering a brief confrontation between players from both teams. Later, Matias Galarza caught the French star with an elbow during another challenge. Following the final whistle, Mbappe appeared to ignore a handshake attempt from Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who responded by throwing the ball toward the France captain. Reflecting on the physical contest, Mbappe said France had been prepared for Paraguay's approach and matched their intensity. The victory sends France into the quarterfinals and keeps Mbappe firmly in contention for both the Golden Boot and the World Cup career scoring record. Norway's Erling Haaland and England's Harry Kane are next in the Golden Boot standings with five goals each. If players finish level on goals, FIFA will decide the award based first on assists and then on the fewest minutes played. Mbappé currently holds a 2-0 advantage over Messi in assists.

Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal as France edged Paraguay 1-0 in sweltering conditions on early Sunday to secure a place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French captain converted a second-half penalty at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, helping Les Bleus advance to the last eight for the fourth consecutive World Cup. Playing under extreme heat, with temperatures approaching 38 degrees Celsius, both teams struggled to maintain a high tempo. Paraguay frustrated France for long periods with a disciplined defensive performance, but the breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Diego Gomez was penalized for a foul following a video review. Mbappe calmly converted the spot kick for what proved to be the match-winning goal. The strike was Mbappe’s 19th career World Cup goal in as many appearances, leaving him just one short of the tournament record held by Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Mbappe has also moved level at the top of the Golden Boot race with seven goals in the tournament. Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who had starred in his team’s shock penalty-shootout victory over Germany in the previous round, produced several important saves to keep his side in contention. He denied Manu Koné and later stopped two additional efforts from Mbappe during stoppage time. Tensions flared throughout the physical contest, with several heated exchanges between players. Following the final whistle, an apparent disagreement between Gill and Mbappe briefly overshadowed the result before emotions cooled. France coach Didier Deschamps praised his side for overcoming a difficult challenge after a series of more comfortable victories earlier in the tournament. France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, have now won all five of their matches at the 2026 World Cup while outscoring opponents 14-2. The victory sets up a quarterfinal clash against Morocco on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France defeated Morocco in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup en route to reaching the final. Paraguay exit the tournament after another spirited performance, having earlier produced one of the competition’s biggest surprises by eliminating Germany in the knockout stage.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice to lead Morocco to a 3-0 win over Canada in the World Cup round of 16 Saturday to make the country the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals more than once. It’s Morocco’s second straight appearance in the quarterfinals after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022. Neither team was able to break through until Ounahi took a free kick from Achraf Hakimi and made a right-footed shot through traffic from outside the box to the bottom right corner to put Morocco on top 1-0 in the 50th minute. Ounahi made it 2-0 on a right-footed shot from the middle of the box off a pass from Brahim Díaz in the 82nd minute. Soufiane Rahimi added a goal in the final minute of stoppage time. Morocco advances to face the winner of Saturday’s Paraguay-France match on Thursday at Boston Stadium. The loss ends a historic run for World Cup co-host Canada, which won its first-ever knockout round with a 1-0 victory over South Africa to reach Saturday’s match. The country was playing in the World Cup for just the third time and the run enchanted a nation that is normally far more interested in hockey than the pitch. Morocco, which is ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, dispatched the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to reach the round of 16 and send the country to its earliest World Cup exit. Canada had a couple of chances to score late. Jonathan David had a free kick from outside the box in the 78th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Just after that Tajon Buchanan’s shot from about 30 yards was stopped with a diving save from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Bounou, who was born in Canada to Moroccan parents, had three saves to help Morocco to the win. This game was a rematch from the last World Cup when Morocco beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage in a tournament in which Morocco finished fourth. It was an extremely physical match with eight yellow cards being issued. Both teams received four. Hakimi and Canada’s Richie Laryea received yellow cards in the 40th minute. Hakimi shoved Laryea to the ground and then Laryea pushed him and a minor scuffle ensued. Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari left with an injury in the 22nd minute.

The final whistle did more than end a football match. It marked the farewell to a field that, within weeks, is expected to disappear forever beneath the waters of the Jamuna River. On Friday, the sandy riverbank of Dhalarchar in Aminpur, Pabna, hosted what residents called their last friendly football match. The teams—Swapnagram Brazil and Swapnagram Argentina—were made up of local young footballers known as the "Char Boys." The event was organised by the BK Foundation as a tribute to a riverine community that has learned to live with loss as an unavoidable part of life. While millions across the globe celebrate the FIFA World Cup through television screens and stadiums, the people of Dhalarchar embraced the spirit of football in their own unique way. Brazilian and Argentine flags fluttered from fishing boats and the tin roofs of modest homes.  

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Saturday with the Round of 16, as the remaining teams compete for places in the quarterfinals. The 16 teams advanced after winning their Round of 32 matches. The qualified teams are Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France, Mexico, England, Belgium, The United States, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Argentina and Colombia. Canada booked its place with a 1-0 win over South Africa, while Brazil defeated Japan 2-1. Paraguay edged Germany 4-3 in a penalty shootout after their match ended level, and Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties. Norway advanced with a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast, France defeated Sweden 3-0, Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 and England overcame DR Congo 2-1. Belgium secured a 3-2 win over Senegal, the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, Spain beat Austria 3-0 and Portugal overcame Croatia 2-1. Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0, Egypt knocked out Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout, Argentina beat Cape Verde 3-2 and Colombia edged Ghana 1-0. Argentina captain Lionel Messi scored his seventh goal of the tournament against Cape Verde and is currently the leading contender for the Golden Boot award. The Round of 16 fixtures are: Saturday, July 4: Canada vs Morocco in Houston (1700 GMT); Paraguay vs France in Philadelphia (2100 GMT). Sunday, July 5: Brazil vs Norway in New York/New Jersey (2000 GMT); Mexico vs England in Mexico City (0000 GMT on Monday). Monday, July 6: Portugal vs Spain in Dallas (1900 GMT); United States vs Belgium in Seattle (0000 GMT on Tuesday). Tuesday, July 7: Argentina vs Egypt in Atlanta (1600 GMT); Switzerland vs Colombia in Vancouver's BC Place Stadium (2000 GMT). Source: AL Jazeera

Lionel Messi continued his remarkable World Cup form on Friday, scoring his 20th career tournament goal as Argentina survived a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde to reach the Round of 16. The goal not only extended Messi’s World Cup scoring record but also moved him two goals clear of France’s Kylian Mbappé on the all-time World Cup scoring list. It also marked his eighth consecutive World Cup match with a goal, continuing a streak that began during Argentina’s successful 2022 title campaign. Despite the milestone, Argentina faced a stern challenge from tournament debutants Cape Verde before eventually securing victory. Reflecting on the performance, Messi acknowledged there were positives to build on while admitting the team still had areas to improve. He also praised Cape Verde for making the match extremely difficult. Messi now leads the Golden Boot race with seven goals, one ahead of Mbappé. During his current eight-match World Cup scoring streak, the Argentine captain has found the net 12 times, once again proving crucial to his team's success. Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul highlighted his admiration for Messi, describing it as a privilege to play alongside and share memorable moments with one of football's greatest players. Another Record-Breaking PerformanceMessi threatened early in the match, narrowly missing the target with a left-footed effort in the 15th minute before seeing a free kick comfortably saved by Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha. His breakthrough came in the 29th minute after making a perfectly timed run onto a lofted pass from Lisandro Martinez. After controlling the ball inside the penalty area, Messi calmly lifted his shot over Vozinha to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. The goal was his 124th international strike, leaving him second only to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 146 international goals. Messi celebrated by pointing toward Martinez in appreciation of the assist before being surrounded by teammates. Argentina Forced to Fight for VictoryAlthough Argentina entered the match as overwhelming favorites, Cape Verde refused to back down. The underdogs equalized twice during the contest, forcing the defending champions into extra time. Messi played an important role in the winning goal as well, delivering a corner that eventually resulted in the decisive own goal midway through the second half of extra time. After the match, Messi praised his team's determination, saying Argentina continued competing until the final whistle. Golden Boot Race IntensifiesWith the knockout stage underway, the race for the tournament's top scorer remains highly competitive. Messi currently leads with seven goals, followed by Mbappé with six. Norway's Erling Haaland and England captain Harry Kane entered Friday with five goals each, while France's Ousmane Dembele, Spain's Mikel Oyarzabal, Brazil's Vinícius Júnior and Senegal's Ismaila Sarr each had four. Sarr is no longer in contention following Senegal's elimination. Argentina, France, England and Norway have all advanced to the Round of 16, ensuring several leading Golden Boot contenders remain in the tournament. Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha praised his team's effort despite the defeat, saying the players gave everything they had to try to earn a victory. Messi has never won the World Cup Golden Boot. He finished runner-up in 2022 with seven goals, one behind Mbappé, and tied for third place with four goals in 2014. If players finish level on goals at the end of the tournament, FIFA will determine the Golden Boot winner first by assists and then by the fewest minutes played. Before Friday's match, Mbappé held the advantage over Messi in assists, but Messi now sits alone at the top of the scoring chart. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the narrow victory was another reminder that no opponent at the World Cup should ever be underestimated.

Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina survived a dramatic scare on Friday, edging Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Following the final whistle, Messi and his teammates showed visible relief after overcoming a spirited challenge from tournament debutants Cape Verde, who twice fought back to level the match before finally falling short. Despite the defeat, Cape Verde's remarkable performance will be remembered as one of the tournament's biggest surprises. The small island nation off Africa's west coast pushed the reigning world champions to their limits in a memorable contest. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his opponents, saying the match proved there are no easy opponents at the World Cup. Argentina regained the lead for good in the 111th minute when Cristian Romero's header deflected off Cape Verde defender Diney Borges and was recorded as an own goal. Messi had earlier opened the scoring with his record-extending 20th World Cup goal, while Lisandro Martinez gave Argentina a 2-1 advantage in stoppage time of normal play. Cape Verde responded on both occasions through Sidny Lopes Cabral and Deroy Duarte. Cabral's stunning curling strike in the 103rd minute leveled the match at 2-2 and briefly raised hopes of a penalty shootout. However, Argentina held on after the decisive own goal and advanced to face Egypt, who defeated Australia in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday. The Round of 16 clash will take place Tuesday in Atlanta. Messi praised his team's determination, saying Argentina continued competing until the very end and never stopped fighting for the victory. Cape Verde's Fairytale Journey EndsCape Verde's first-ever World Cup appearance exceeded all expectations. Backed by outstanding performances from 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, the nation of just over 525,000 people became the smallest country ever to reach the tournament's knockout stage. The Blue Sharks earned impressive draws against former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, before their courageous display against Argentina. Vozinha was outstanding once again, making 10 saves, including five against Messi, to keep his side in contention throughout the match. Head coach Bubista expressed pride in his players, saying they represented their country with dignity and demonstrated their identity by competing toe-to-toe with one of football's strongest teams. Messi Continues Record-Breaking FormMessi opened the scoring in the 29th minute after timing his run perfectly to meet Lisandro Martinez's lofted pass before controlling the ball and finishing powerfully into the roof of the net. The goal was Messi's seventh of the tournament, moving him one ahead of France's Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. It also extended his World Cup career scoring record, placing him two goals clear of Mbappé on the all-time list while stretching his scoring streak to eight consecutive World Cup matches, during which he has netted 12 goals. Earlier in the match, Messi narrowly missed the target with a low effort before seeing a free kick comfortably saved by Vozinha, who repeatedly frustrated Argentina's captain. Pride Despite DefeatCape Verde defender Pico Lopes admitted the result was disappointing but said the team could be proud of its resilience after twice coming from behind against the defending champions. Following the match, players and coach Bubista remained on the field for several minutes, many overcome with emotion. Some sat quietly with heads bowed, while others embraced teammates before acknowledging their supporters. Reflecting on the tournament, Bubista said Cape Verde had shown that although it is a small nation, it is capable of competing with the world's best teams. 

Switzerland ended its long wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory by defeating Algeria 2-0 on Thursday night to book a place in the round of 16. Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye scored for the Swiss, who advanced to the next stage and will face the winner of Friday's match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City, Missouri. The round-of-16 match is scheduled for next Tuesday in Vancouver. It was Switzerland's first victory in a World Cup knockout match since 1938 in France. The team also won a playoff match to reach the quarterfinals at the 1954 World Cup. Although Switzerland reached the round of 16 at each of the previous three World Cups, when the tournament featured 32 teams, it failed to progress beyond that stage. "Today we write one page of history, but we want more, and we work for more," Ndoye said. "I think we show that we are a strong team, and now we need to show it in the next game, and we hope again to the next game." After the final whistle, the Swiss players celebrated by sitting on the pitch while their fans sang. As the atmosphere built, the players got up and danced together. Algeria was knocked out after returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2014, when it reached the knockout stage before losing to eventual champion Germany. Algeria started brightly and controlled the opening 10 minutes before Johan Manzambi broke down the right wing and set up Embolo for a simple finish. Embolo marked his 26th international goal with a knee-slide celebration. "It was important to score at the right moment," Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. "It was a lucky punch, but then after that, I think that we were dominating on the pitch, and I'm really happy with the overall performance, because we played against very strong individual players." Switzerland doubled its lead less than a minute into the second half when Ndoye fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box that Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane could not keep out. Fabian Rieder nearly added a third goal in the 81st minute but failed to convert from close range as the ball rolled across the face of goal. "I think the second goal was decisive. In the first half, we played a good match. We had several opportunities, and unfortunately we did not score," Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said. "Unfortunately, after 12 minutes they scored the first goal, and we were not able to really cope with it. I have to congratulate them. They played a very good match." FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the match, his second of the day after earlier watching Spain face Austria in Inglewood, California. Algeria qualified for the knockout stage as one of the third-placed teams after drawing 3-3 with Austria last Saturday in Kansas City. The result sent both teams through while eliminating Iran. Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez, 35, scored twice in that match. "It was already a big success to be back at a competition like this after 12 years away, and making it through the group stage for only the second time in our history. I think that's also an excellent result," Petkovic said. "Of course, we wanted to achieve a little bit more, but we weren't able to do so." Switzerland secured its place in the knockout stage by beating Canada 2-1 on Wednesday with goals from Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi, ending Canada's hopes of playing its first-ever World Cup knockout match on home soil. The Swiss returned to Vancouver after spending a week at their training base in San Diego. Manzambi, 20, has emerged as one of Switzerland's standout performers at the tournament, contributing two goals and two assists. After beginning the World Cup as a substitute, he earned a place in the starting lineup for Switzerland's last two matches. Petkovic coached Switzerland from 2014 to 2021, guiding the team out of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup and leading it to the quarterfinals of the 2020 European Championship.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón has the longest shutout streak in World Cup history, breaking a 36-year-old record while blanking Austria in a 3-0 victory Thursday for his fourth consecutive clean sheet in this World Cup. Simón hasn't allowed a goal in 519 consecutive minutes across the past two World Cups. He broke the record set in 1990 by famed Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who recorded 517 straight scoreless minutes and five consecutive clean sheets in his home World Cup. The 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao mainstay isn't the most famous goalkeeper in this competition — or even on his own team — but Simón's outstanding play at the back of Spain's superb defense has launched him into the World Cup record books. Spain has yet to allow a goal at this World Cup, and its Basque backstop has only had to make four saves — none against Austria, which got none of its five shots on target. “I feel proud of him,” Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. “I feel like he is a member of my family. I’m very happy for him.” Simón has been Spain's first choice in net for most of the past half-decade, keeping the job despite roster competition from David Raya and Joan Garcia, the championship-winning goalkeepers in two of Europe's four biggest leagues. Simón has spent his club career on smaller stages with Bilbao, which only reached the Champions League for the first time in his career last season. Simón owes his international success to his stellar results and to his tight bond with De La Fuente, who has largely resisted calls to give more playing time to his goalkeeping options with more accomplished club careers. Simón and De La Fuente have been bonded since 2015, when the coach and his 18-year-old keeper won the European Under-19 championship in Greece. They stayed together in Spain's youth system and then reunited in early 2023, when De La Fuente took over the senior national team and promptly embarked on one of the most successful stretches in Spain's proud history. Under De La Fuente, Spain has just one loss in 37 competitive matches, going unbeaten in its last 35 straight — a streak which includes a loss on penalties to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League. Spain has won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship with Simón in net, and now it has won a World Cup knockout match for the first time in 16 years. Simón and Spain allowed just three goals in four matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but still went home early. Simón's shutout streak started during Spain's 2-1 loss to Japan, and it continued through a scoreless draw with Morocco, which ultimately knocked out Spain by converting three of its four penalties against Simón. In North America, nobody has been able to beat Simón — and only Uruguay has managed more than one shot on goal among Spain's four opponents. “(Simón) played a very big role in the victory, but it’s not just about individuals,” De La Fuente said after beating Austria. “It’s about the whole group coming together for that defensive effort.” Early in the second half against Austria, Simón also surpassed the Spanish record scoreless streak posted by Iker Casillas across the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. His play has been more than enough to hold off two accomplished challengers as Spain moves forward to the round of 16. Raya is widely considered one of the world's best goalkeepers after winning three consecutive Golden Glove awards at Arsenal for leading the Premier League in clean sheets. He also backstopped the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004 and the Champions League final this year — only to go back to a reserve role for Spain. García is one of the world's top young talents at the position after seizing Barca's starting job last season, but he's also likely to spend this World Cup as a spectator.

Goncalo Ramos headed in the stoppage-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match on Thursday night. The game featured a matchup 40-somethings Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, in his sixth World Cup, and Croatia’s Luka Modrić, making his fifth bid for a tournament title. Ronaldo initially tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick and give the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup before being subbed out in the 81st minute. But, it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory and a berth in the round of 16. Portugal moves on to face Spain on Monday. “First half we dominated the game,” Ronaldo said. “In second half after the goal we get a little bit panic, but this is football. “After the penalty, I think it was a little bit better for us. We created a few chances and I think at the end of the day we deserved to win the match.” The game ended in controversy as Croatia thought it had tied things up 2-2 in the very last moments, but Mario Pasalic was called offside as VAR ruled no goal. Croatia fans threw bottles on the field and whistled in protest. Croatia opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Ivan Perisic scored off a cross from Josip Sanisic. Ronaldo, booed loudly by Croatia fans every time he touched the ball, got his chance from the spot after Nikola Vlasic was called for a holding foul inside the box. Portugal’s megastar hitched his step and converted down the middle as the goalkeeper went to his right.