The Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to an end, with the tournament now entering the quarter-final stage after another exciting round of knockout football.
Fans witnessed intense contests, dramatic moments and a major upset as eight teams booked their places in the last eight, while the dreams of several others came to an end.
One of the biggest surprises of the Round of 16 was Norway’s stunning victory over five-time world champions Brazil. The result sent shockwaves through the tournament and secured Norway a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face England.
England also progressed after defeating Mexico in a hard-fought encounter, keeping alive their hopes of winning a second FIFA World Cup title.
Elsewhere, reigning European champions Spain advanced after overcoming Portugal in an all-European clash, while France continued their impressive run by eliminating Paraguay to set up another quarter-final appearance.
Argentina also secured their place in the last eight after defeating Egypt, ending the Pharaohs’ remarkable World Cup campaign. Egypt had become one of Africa’s success stories at the tournament after reaching the Round of 16, but they were unable to overcome the South American giants.
With the conclusion of the Round of 16, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Paraguay, Egypt, Ghana, Croatia, Japan, South Africa, Ecuador, Sweden, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Senegal, Australia, Algeria, Cape Verde and the Netherlands are among the nations whose World Cup journeys have come to an end.
Only eight teams now remain in the race for football’s biggest prize, with every match becoming even more significant as the competition moves closer to the final.
Confirmed Quarter-final Fixtures
- England vs Norway
- France vs Spain
- Argentina vs Colombia
- Canada vs Morocco
The quarter-finals promise another round of high-quality football, with every remaining team just two victories away from reaching the World Cup final. As the pressure mounts, fans across the globe will be eagerly waiting to see which nations can keep their dream of lifting the trophy alive.
