Six Round of 16 matches played. Six stories. The quarter-final picture is taking shape — and it looks nothing like anyone predicted before the tournament began.
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Round of 16 Results So Far
R16 Match 1 — Morocco 1–0 Canada: The first co-host to be eliminated. Canada’s tournament ended at the Round of 16 on home soil.
R16 Match 2 — France vs Paraguay: France progressed to face Morocco in the quarter-finals.
R16 Match 3 — Norway 2–1 Brazil: The result of the tournament. Erling Haaland scored twice — a header and a low strike in the final ten minutes — to end Brazil’s 24-year wait for a World Cup that keeps extending. Norway, a nation that has never reached a World Cup quarter-final before, are through.
R16 Match 4 — England 3–2 Mexico: Mexico became the second co-host to be eliminated. England won despite finishing the match with ten men after Quansah’s red card in the 54th minute. Three goals, a penalty, a red card, and a nation eliminated on its own ground.
R16 Match 5 — Spain 1–0 Portugal: The Iberian Derby was settled by a single goal. Mikel Merino, introduced as a substitute, scored from Ferran Torres’ assist in the 91st minute. Portugal — and Cristiano Ronaldo — are out. Spain march on.
R16 Match 6 — Belgium 4–1 USA: The last co-host eliminated. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Matt Freese’s goalkeeping error gifted Belgium their third goal, and Romelu Lukaku sealed it late. Belgium were clinical; USA were punished for every mistake they made.
The Quarter-Final Bracket — Confirmed
Quarter-Final: Morocco vs France
Quarter-Final: Norway vs England
Quarter-Final: Spain vs Belgium
Quarter-Final: Argentina/Egypt winner vs Switzerland/Colombia winner — to be confirmed after the final two Round of 16 matches.
The Headlines from the Round of 16
Canada, Mexico, and the USA — all three hosting FIFA World Cup 2026™ — have been eliminated before the quarter-finals. It is the first time in the tournament’s history that the co-hosting model has been tested at this scale, and all three failed to reach the final eight.
Norway is here. It bears repeating. A nation making its first World Cup appearance since 1998 is in the last eight. Haaland, with seven goals, is tied three-way at the top of the Golden Boot Race with Mbappé and Messi. Whoever faces them next will need an answer for him that Brazil did not have.
Ronaldo is done. Spain vs Portugal ended a chapter. Ronaldo had one genuine chance, Simón saved it, and Merino broke Portuguese hearts in stoppage time. The greatest argument in football history — Ronaldo or Messi — may have just had its final World Cup entry. Messi is still playing. Ronaldo is not.
England are through — but barely. Three goals, a man sent off, holding on for the final half-hour. Not the performances of a tournament favourite. The question for England in its quarter-final against Norway is whether it can withstand the same defensive pressure from a side that just dismantled Brazil.
Still to Play — Round of 16
Argentina vs Egypt — 9:30 PM IST tonight.
Switzerland vs Colombia —1:30 AM IST.
The winner of Argentina vs Egypt meets the winner of Switzerland vs Colombia in the quarter-finals. Bracket Tracker Update 4 will confirm the full eight-team draw.
Don’t miss the final two Round of 16 matches — watch Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia live on ZEE 5.
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