The Round of 32 is over. The last three teams qualified on July 4, and the matches were worth staying up for. A penalty shootout that ended with a goalkeeper substitution that backfired. A defending world champion who nearly lost to a debutant. And a clean, clinical 1–0 that sealed the last spot in the Round of 16. The bracket is full. The knockout football gets harder from here.
The Round of 32 is complete, and the Round of 16 is set — stream every knockout match live on ZEE 5 with the ZEE 5 FIFA Subscription Quarterly Plan at ₹799. Don’t miss the moment of FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Egypt 1–1 Australia (AET) — Egypt Win 4–2 on Penalties: History for the Pharaohs
Egypt had never won a World Cup knockout match. Now they have. Australia equalised in the 55th minute through a Mohamed Hany own goal — cancelling out Emam Ashour’s first-half header — and the match went into extra time. Patrick Beach, Australia’s young goalkeeper, produced an extraordinary double save in the 90th minute, denying Rami Rabia’s header and then Mohamed Salah’s follow-up from point-blank range.
Then Australia manager Tony Popovic made the call that will be debated for years. In the 119th minute — with one minute left in extra time — he substituted Beach for veteran Mathew Ryan, seeking penalty-saving experience. Ryan did not save a single one. Egypt scored all four. Souttar over the bar, Herrington off the crossbar — Australia missed twice. Salah walked up and chipped a Panenka down the middle. Egypt through. Historic. Their next challenge: Argentina in the Round of 16 on July 7 in Atlanta.
Argentina 3–2 Cabo Verde (AET): Messi’s Record, Vozinha’s Miracle, a Nation’s Heartbreak
Lionel Messi scored his 20th FIFA World Cup goal — a record that belongs to him alone. Cabo Verde equalised. Twice. The first came in the 59th minute through Deroy Duarte. The second came in the 104th minute of extra time — Sidny Lopes Cabral curling a dipping rocket into the top corner that froze Emi Martínez completely. 2–2 in extra time. A nation of half a million people was seven minutes from a tiebreaker against Argentina.
Then Messi delivered a corner. Cristian Romero rose. His header deflected off Diney Borges. 3–2. Argentina through. But the match belongs to Vozinha and Sidny Lopes Cabral. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper, denied Messi twice in the second half with saves that will be on highlight reels forever. The 62nd-minute leg save. The 73rd-minute full-stretch parry of a trademark left-footed free-kick. Then, Sidny Lopes Cabral scored a stunner at the 103rd minute. Cabo Verde go home having produced one of its greatest matches.
Colombia 1–0 Ghana: The Round of 32 Ends Quietly
After the drama of Dallas and Miami, Kansas City provided a more measured conclusion to the Round of 32. Jhon Arias scored in the 14th minute from a Luis Suárez cross — Suárez had been on the pitch for six minutes, replacing the injured Jhon Córdoba. One goal was enough. Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi made seven saves to keep the Black Stars alive, and Luis Díaz had a second goal ruled out for offside in the 56th minute. Colombia held on. 1–0. The final spot in the Round of 16 was filled16 filled.
The Round of 16 Is Set
All sixteen teams are confirmed. The matches that will define this World Cup start now. Portugal face Spain. Argentina meet Egypt. Mexico take on England. Colombia are drawn against Switzerland. France, Norway, Brazil, Morocco, Belgium, USA, Canada, Paraguay — all still alive, all with something to prove.
The Round of 32 gave us some extraordinary moments. If the Round of 16 matches that standard, this will be remembered as one of the greatest FIFA World Cup tournaments.
It starts tonight. The bracket is ready. Are you?
Every Round of 16 match is live on ZEE 5 — India’s official home of FIFA World Cup 2026™. Don’t miss what comes next.
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