Portugal came to Miami as many people’s pick to win the whole thing and left with a point, second place, and very little to brag about. Colombia outshot them 26 to 13 and hit everything but the net.

Diogo Costa saved the day; the rest of Portugal mostly watched. A draw is a draw. This one came with a thank-you note to the keeper and an uncomfortable question: is this team actually a contender?

Here are my takeaways from Portugal’s 0-0 draw with Colombia:

1. Portugal Were Billed As Contenders. Miami Said: Prove It.

(Photo by Hugo Rivera/Jam Media/Getty Images)

–>

A lot of smart people had Portugal among the favorites to win this whole thing. On tonight’s evidence, those people might want a refund. Colombia ran the game from the first whistle: 26 shots, a ball hacked off the line, Diogo Costa standing on his head. Portugal managed two shots on target all game.

The convenient excuse is the South Florida heat, and yes, it was a sauna in Miami. But here’s the flaw in that alibi: Colombia played in the same swamp and looked twice as sharp. Roberto Martinez slowed the tempo to a crawl to control the game and instead invited a siege.

Unbeaten in the group? Sure. Convincing? Only against Uzbekistan. If this is a contender, it’s hiding it well. The heat didn’t park the bus. Portugal did.

2. The Ronaldo Watch: ‘I’m Back’ Just Met a Real Defense.

(Photo by Evrim Aydin/Anadolu via Getty Images)

–>

The Cristiano Ronaldo arc this tournament has been a full-on soap opera. Game one against Congo DR: invisible. Scoreless, three shots, none on target, a chorus calling for the bench. Game two against Uzbekistan: a first-half brace, each met with an emphatic “SIUUU”. CR7 became the first man ever to score at six World Cups, and a roar of “I’m back!” straight down the camera. Game three against Colombia: anonymous again, this time against an actual defense.

In his 40s now, it’s only normal that Ronaldo, an all-timer, will struggle against better defensive units. And here’s what isn’t changing: Martinez will not rotate him. He made that clear after the opener, and at 41, Ronaldo starts every knockout game until further notice.

That’s the bet Portugal has placed. The knockouts don’t serve up Uzbekistan. They serve up the kind of defenders he just spent 90 minutes failing to beat.

3. Colombia Is A Real Dark Horse

(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

–>

Forget Portugal for a moment. Colombia were the best team on the field tonight, and it wasn’t close. Néstor Lorenzo’s side topped Group K unbeaten and dismantled a so-called favorite. James Rodríguez, 34 and at his third World Cup, ran the whole thing from midfield like someone who’s been here before, because he has. Luis Díaz buzzed down the left. Davinson Sánchez even had a stoppage-time winner flagged offside.

Colombia created enough to win three games. And that’s exactly the problem: 26 shots, zero goals. A team that dominates this thoroughly and still can’t score carries one terrifying flaw in knockout football, where you get one good look and have to bury it.

Colombia looks like genuine quarterfinal material. They also look like a side that could dominate its way out of the tournament. Finishing is the gap. They’d better close it.

4. The Permutations: Portugal Gets Croatia, Colombia Gets a Gift, Congo Makes History.

(Photo by Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

–>

Let’s sort the Group K math. Colombia wins the group and draws a third-placed team in the Round of 32, a soft landing of sorts. Portugal, by slipping to second, gets Croatia and Luka Modrić on July 2. That’s a real one; Croatia doesn’t beat themselves.

And then the story of the night: Congo DR beat Uzbekistan 3-1 and are through as one of the eight best third-placed teams, locked in regardless of results elsewhere. This is enormous. It’s their first World Cup knockout berth ever, and their first World Cup since 1974, back when they were Zaire. The Leopards grabbed a point off Portugal, pushed Colombia to the brink, and now face England in the round of 32. Fairy tales rarely wear this badge. This one does.

Colombia vs Portugal Extended Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–>

Source

“Bear Bets” are real wagers that Chris “The Bear” Fallica is actually making.

Now things are gonna get interesting. 

We’re on to the Round of 32 in the World Cup, meaning a single loss equals elimination. 

Here’s how I’m wagering on Match Day 18, with only one game on tap.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

World Cup Best Bets — Sunday, June 28

South Africa vs. Canada

South Africa is here after scoring one goal in the run of play in three matches, and it has scored zero or one goal in each of its last eight matches. We can expect another tight, defensive-minded game from Bafana Bafana here. I wouldn’t be shocked if this one ended in a draw, but it should be a stereotypical knockout round match where Under is the play. Canada would love to get something from Alphonso Davies or Stephen Eustaquio here, but it is still up in the air if they are fit to contribute.

Fallica’s Picks:   Both Teams to Score — No (-130), Under 2.5 (-138)

Source

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaching the knockout rounds, fans will soon see 90-minute draws turn into extra time and penalty shootouts. At each of the last three World Cups, there were at least four matches decided by penalty shootouts, but in 2026, with 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds instead of 16, that number could increase. 

So what is the approach for goalkeepers defending against penalty-takers in these shootouts? And what is the approach for those who take penalty kicks? 

We asked former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan and former Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel how they approached stopping penalty kicks. And on the flipside, we asked former U.S. men’s national team star forward Clint Dempsey what goes into making a penalty kick in a high-pressure moment.

Here’s how they break down penalty kicks in a step-by-step process. 

Preparation

Goalkeepers like Kasper Schmeichel put countless hours into preparing how to stop penalty kicks. (Photo by Rui Vieira/PA Images via Getty Images)

–>

Well before any penalty kicks are taken, several hours of preparation are put into stopping or converting them. However, Guzan admitted that he always felt “the pressure was on the penalty-taker.”

Still, Guzan, who was on America’s roster at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and spent nine seasons with MLS club Atlanta United after a nine-year career in England, always felt supremely prepared for penalty shootouts. 

Before the start of a penalty shootout, he’d meet with the goalkeeper’s coach, study his opponents and put himself in a position to succeed. 

“You’ve done your research, you’ve done your homework leading up to the game,” Guzan said. “You’ve got a list, a piece of paper with their names and their tendencies. That gives you that little reminder, and then, go for it.”

Defending a penalty shootout is similar to being an infielder or outfielder in baseball and reading your positioning card before each batter steps onto the plate. A hitter can beat a shift, similar to how a penalty-taker can stray from their normal strategy, but following the history, the film, the research best prepares a goalkeeper. 

“At that point, you trust in your gut, you trust in what you’ve seen. And if you go the right way, you hope that you’ve put yourself in a position to make a save,” Guzan said. 

Trusting the preparation is key, Guzan explained, emphasizing that once a goalkeeper chooses a side to dive to, they have to commit. 

Mind Games

Goalkeepers like Brad Guzan try to find an advantage in penalty kicks by chatting up opposing players. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

–>

When it actually comes time for penalty kicks, there’s another advantage that goalkeepers have, according to Guzan: playing mind games. Guzan said he wouldn’t trash-talk penalty kickers, but he would certainly ice them. 

“I was a delay guy. Talking to the referee, getting a sip of water. I’m touching the post over there, I’m touching the post over here.”

That strategy, however, is much harder to implement at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where there are rules to ensure the game flows smoothly, where officials have awarded corner kicks when goalkeepers take too long to take a goal kick, and issued cards for wasting time.  

So, that’s why some other goalkeepers take their preparation and mind games to an extra level. Former Denmark and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel shared that the teams he was a part of would seek the help of a mentalist to try and get an extra advantage in penalty kick situations.

“For me, it was always about control,” Schmeichel said. “We actually used a mentalist, a guy that guesses things that you’re thinking, but they’re putting it in your head. So, we actually asked one of those to see what we can actually do to influence a taker, and it would be things like overemphasizing certain words. 

“In a VAR situation, when the referee is out checking, I had a chance to talk to the taker. I’d overemphasize words like over or right or left, or try to do different things that they kind of taught us to look for. Can I get some kind of influence?”

Another challenge for goalkeepers is the introduction of late-game substitutes, or a penalty shootout going longer than five attempts. That can lead to penalty-takers who have few attempts on their record, and therefore, no concrete tendencies. 

In the end, Guzan said, it’s important to “trust in what you’ve already done,” and “commit and go.”

The Run-Up

Clint Dempsey believes that the success of penalty kicks might come before the kick is taken. (Photo credit should read OMAR TORRES/AFP via Getty Images)

–>

Now, the ref has blown the whistle and it’s time for the taker to step up to the ball for the kick. When Dempsey would take his first steps toward the ball, there was one move he would make that he thought gave the penalty kick taker an advantage. 

“To me, you stutter step to see if the keeper is going to go early,” Dempsey said. “If the keeper doesn’t go early, then you have to be precise. And you know in your mind where you like to go in those scenarios. There are times when you see the keeper bite, and then you’re able to change it up. I think different strokes for different folks.”

With penalty takers like Dempsey admitting that they tried to get the goalkeeper to move early, Guzan admitted that stopping penalty shots was “all about timing.”

“The timing to explode and the timing to go with whatever side you decide, left or right,” Guzan said. “You want to go with everything you have. When you stutter, that timing becomes really difficult to make sure you don’t go early.”

The Attempt 

Brad Guzan said that timing is everything when it comes to keepers having to save penalty kicks.(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

–>

Ultimately, the vast majority of penalty kicks are determined by how the ball comes off the taker’s foot. Will the taker aim for the far posts? Will he or she aim for the middle of the net? Do you put some umph on the shot to power it past the goalkeeper or do you bounce it in?

Dempsey said that the best takers have to weigh everything and be able to make penalty kicks in form or fashion. 

“You have to mix up how you do your penalty kicks. You have to be willing to chip down the middle and not do the stutter step,” Dempsey said, adding, “If you’re going to be the most complete penalty taker, you have to have an array of ways in which you take it.”

And on the keeper’s end, Guzan continued to emphasize the importance of timing, believing that the slightest difference in reaction time could determine if the ball goes in or is saved. 

“The timing then has to be so precise,” Guzan said. “Even then, if the ball is far enough in the corner, it becomes really difficult to save, knowing that you’ve got to be at full extension to get even the slightest fingertip to get it on the post or around the post.”

The Result

Kasper Schmeichel saved two of the five penalty attempts he faced in Denmark’s penalty shootout loss to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup.  (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

–>

Hours of preparation and studying are behind every penalty kick. Moments of intense thinking precede each try, too. 

All of those little things helped Dempsey make 16 penalty kicks on 21 attempts in his club and international career (excluding penalty kick shootouts). For Guzan, he saved 17 of the 71 penalty kicks he faced in his club and international career (also excluding penalty kick shootouts).

But all of that time and thinking might not matter in the end, at least on the goalkeeper’s side. 

“We had faced a penalty against Peru in the World Cup 2018. I kept overemphasizing the word over, ‘Don’t hit this over,’ all these kinds of things, emphasizing the word over,” said Schmeichel, who saved 26 of 99 penalty shots he faced over his career (excluding penalty kick shootouts). “Whether it made a difference, I don’t know.”

Source

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal now know who they will face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32.

Portugal finished in second place in Group K after drawing with Colombia on Saturday. Portugal will face Croatia, the second-place finisher in Group L, on Thursday, July 2.  

Here is everything you need to know about Portugal’s round of 32 opponent:

Who Is Portugal’s Round Of 32 Opponent?

As the runner-up in Group L, Croatia will play Portugal in the round of 32. Croatia entered Saturday in third place in Group L, but defeated Ghana 2-1 to improve its standing. Croatia finished third at the 2022 World Cup, and second in 2018. 

COLOMBIA SITS ON TOP 🇨🇴 Colombia wins Group K, Portugal and DR Congo leap into Round of 32 ️

–>

When Is Portugal vs. Croatia? 

Portugal will face Croatia on Thursday, July 2, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Toronto Stadium. Croatian fans flooded Toronto stadium for its second match at the 2026 World Cup against Panama. 

Who Is Croatia’s Best Player?

Luka Modrić is certainly Croatia’s most famous player. The 40-year-old delivered a vintage performance against Ghana, assisting Nikola Vlasic’s match-winning goal against Ghana. 

Martin Baturina might have usurped Modrić as Croatia’s current best player. Baturina scored a banger from outside the box against England, and has been a consistent force on the ball throughout this tournament. 

Croatia’s Martin Baturina scores equalizer against England | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–> ]–>

Source

The United States men’s national team now knows its path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it’s not going to be easy — far from it.

Although the U.S. won Group D by winning two group-stage matches for the first time since 1930, it is expected to play just one team ranked lower than it in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings through the knockout stage due to some surprises on the final days of group play.

Additionally, the United States is already a long-shot to win the World Cup even after its strong start to the tournament with +3500 odds, the ninth-best odds in the field. Still, the Americans’ performance in the group stage has dared their fans — and themselves — to dream.

Here’s everything you need to know about the United States’ path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final:

How USA’s Path Was Decided

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

–>

This simulation of the United States’ path to the World Cup final assumes two things:

1. That the U.S. defies expectations and wins every game of the knockout stage, through the final.
2. That the team with the highest FIFA ranking in every other matchup wins as expected, starting with the round of 32.

This creates the hardest — and maybe most realistic — path for the U.S. to make the final.

Round Of 32

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

–>

Date: July 1
Location: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

• Opponent: Bosnia and Herzegovina
• FIFA Rank: 61
• Record: 1W-1D-1L
• Tournament odds: +250000 (4th-worst)

Round Of 16

 (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

–>

Date: July 6
Location: Seattle Stadium

• Projected opponent: Belgium
• FIFA Rank: 10
• Record: 1W-2D-0L
• Tournament odds: +4500 (12th-best)

Quarterfinals

(Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

–>

Date: July 10
Location: Los Angeles Stadium

• Projected opponent: Spain
• FIFA Rank: 3
• Record: 2W-1D-0L
• Tournament odds: +550 (3rd-best)

Semifinals

(Photo by Lui Siu Wai/Xinhua via Getty Images)

–>

Date: July 15
Location: Dallas Stadium

• Projected opponent: France
• FIFA Rank: 1
• Record: 3W-0D-0L
• Tournament odds: +360 (Best)

Final

(Photo by Tullio Puglia – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

–>

Date: July 19
Location: New York New Jersey Stadium

• Projected opponent: Argentina
• FIFA Rank: 2
• Record: 3W-0D-0L
• Tournament odds: +500 (2nd-best)

Source

The GOAT continues to amaze the world as Lionel Messi now reigns supreme at the top of the list of all-time goalscorers at the World Cup. 

With his two goal against Austria in Argentina’s group-stage game on June 22, Messi surpassed the long-standing record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. It came a week after Messi scored his first career World Cup hat trick in a win over Algeria, while also setting the record as the oldest player (38) to record a hat trick at the tournament — passing Cristiano Ronaldo’s feat from 2022 when he was 33 years old. 

But this list could change even more. France’s Kylian Mbappé has 16 goals all time at the World Cup, tied for the second-most ever, and is already adding to his tally this summer. With that being said, here are the players with the most goals in World Cup men’s history. Let’s take a look.

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina): 19

Lionel Messi scores free kick against Jordan, becomes first to score in SEVEN straight FIFA World Cup™ matches

–>

Messi’s six goals at the 2026 World Cup have now given him yet another record on his résumé. Messi has played in every World Cup since 2006 and scored in all but one (2010). He scored seven goals at the 2022 World Cup. Messi is also Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer with 123 to his name and additionally holds the record for most World Cup matches played with 29.

T-2. Kylian Mbappé (France): 16

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

–>

Mbappé has scored an outrageous 16 goals in just 16 World Cup matches in his career. As a 19-year-old in 2018, he scored four goals for France, helping it win its first title since 1998, and then he scored eight goals in 2022 — most notably netting the second hat trick in a World Cup final ever against Argentina. At the 2026 tournament, he has four so far. 

T-2. Miroslav Klose (Germany): 16

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

–>

Playing in four straight World Cups from 2002 to 2014, Klose scored in all four editions of the World Cups he participated in and capped it off by lifting the trophy in 2016. His 71 goals for Germany are also the most in the national team’s history.

4. Ronaldo (Brazil): 15

(Photo by Gunnar Berning/Bongarts/Getty Images)

–>

Many consider Ronaldo the greatest striker of all-time, as he scored more than 350 goals in club play and 62 for Brazil. Fifteen of those international goals came in the World Cup, en route to winning the Golden Ball in the 1998 tournament and the Golden Boot in 2002. 

5. Gerd Müller (Germany): 14

(Photo by Werner Schulze/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

–>

Arguably the greatest Bundesliga goalscorer of all-time, Müller scored an astonishing 10 goals in 1970 and then another four in 1974 in Germany’s title run. He was Germany’s all-time leading goalscorer with 68 goals until Klose passed him.

6. Just Fontaine (France): 13

(Photo by dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images)

–>

Fontaine holds one of the most incredible stats in World Cup history, as all 13 of his goals came in the 1958 edition of the tournament — the record for most goals scored by a player at a single World Cup. It’s been 68 years since he set that record, and no one has come close to breaking it.

7. Pelé (Brazil): 12

(Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

–>

The great Pelé scored in all four of his World Cup appearances from 1958 to 1970 and won three titles with Brazil in that span. Most notably, he scored in the final in 1958, as the youngest to ever do so at just 17 years old.

T-8. Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany): 11

(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images).

–>

Klinsmann scored in three straight World Cups from 1990 to 1998, helping Germany lift the trophy in 1990. His 47 goals for Germany overall are tied for the fourth-most in national team history.

T-8. Sándor Kocsis (Hungary): 11

(Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

–>

Kocsis’s 11 goals all came in 1954, when his Hungary side scored 27 in five matches before falling in the final to West Germany. He’s the only player to hit double digits in one World Cup besides Fontaine and Müller.

Seven players have exactly 10 goals at the World Cup: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Helmut Rahn (Germany), Gary Lineker (England), Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina), Teófilo Cubillas (Peru), Thomas Müller (Germany) and Grzegorz Lato (Poland). 

Argentina vs Austria Extended Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–>

Source

Mexico has won Group A and officially clinched a spot in the knockout round. 

El Tri will play Ecuador in its Round of 32 game in Mexico City on June 30th on FOX. If Mexico advances, it will play the winner of the England vs. DR Congo matchup in the Round of 16.

With the showdown now set, FanDuel Sportsbook has released the betting odds for the Round of 32 matchup.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Moneyline

Mexico: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
Ecuador: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)
Draw: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)

To Advance

Mexico: -182 (bet $10 to win $15.49 total)
Ecuador +148 (bet $10 to win $24.80 total)

This is the fourth time that Mexico has topped the group stage of a World Cup, with the other three coming in 1986, 1994 and 2002. 

With the 3-0 win over Czechia on Wednesday, Mexico remains unbeaten in World Cup group games at home, going a combined 7-2-0 (W-D-L), with two wins and a draw in 1970 and 1986, and now three wins in 2026. 

Before the tournament began, Mexico was listed at +6500 to win the World Cup. Now, after winning its first three games of the tournament without giving up a goal, Mexico has surged up the oddsboard to +5000. 

Can Mexico build off its first three matches and make a deep run in this tournament? Let’s check out the updated odds for El Tri as of June 29.

Team Mexico — Stage of Elimination

Last 32: +125 (bet $10 to win $22.50 total)
Last 16: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)
Quarterfinals: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
Semifinals: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Runner-up: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)
Outright winner: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Mexico is currently +5000 to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after winning Group A (Getty Images).

–>

Mexico’s Past World Cup Results

1930: Group stage
1934: Did not qualify
1938: Withdrew
1950: Group stage
1954: Group stage
1958: Group stage
1962: Group stage
1966: Group stage
1970: Quarterfinals
1974: Did not qualify
1978: Group stage
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Quarterfinals
1990: Banned
1994: Round of 16
1998: Round of 16
2002: Round of 16
2006: Round of 16
2010: Round of 16
2014: Round of 16
2018: Round of 16
2022: Group stage
2026: TBD

What to know: Mexico has made a habit of being in the running, but never really being in the running. Make sense? Consider this: El Tri made it out of the group stage in seven consecutive World Cups (1994-2018), but never made it past the Round of 16 in any of those years. In 2022, Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage. Mexico has now advanced to the knockout stage in eight of the last nine World Cups. It is important to note, however, that Mexico has never made it past the quarterfinals at a FIFA men’s World Cup. 

Source

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score his World Cup-leading sixth goal of the tournament for Argentina as the defending champions topped tournament debutant Jordan 3-1 at Dallas Stadium in both teams’ final first round match in Group J.

With Messi initially watching from the sidelines, Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez scored their first career World Cup goals for the Albiceleste in the first half, but Jordanian substitute Musa Al-Taamari made things interesting when he pulled one back for the underdogs just 10 minutes into the second.

Messi, this World Cup’s top scorer, came on with about a half-hour left to play. The GOAT, who turned 39 on Wednesday, was given a rest by coach Lionel Scaloni with Argentina already qualified for the round of 32, but he gave the crowd what they came to see with one of his signature free kicks with just over 10 minutes left to play.

Here are my takeaways:

1. Argentina Didn’t Need Messi …

Scaloni said on the eve of the match that Messi, who missed several games for MLS champion Inter Miami earlier this season because of what the club called “muscle fatigue, wouldn’t start in the group stage finale.

Messi had started every World Cup game for the Albiceleste since 2010; the last time he came off the bench was 20 years ago in 2006, during his first trip to the planet’s most important sporting event.

But the calculation by Scaloni paid off. Lo Celso — who missed his country’s triumph four years ago in Qatar because of an untimely hamstring injury — scored a left-footed, Messi-esque free kick that beat Yazeed Abulaila and settled into the top corner of the goalkeeper’s net.

Martínez then doubled the advantage in the 31st minute by converting a penalty kick that was awarded following a video review. And while Jordan made things interesting by cutting the lead in half, they never again tested Argentine backstop Emiliano Martínez, who didn’t make a single save all night.

2. … But (Of Course) The GOAT Stole The Show Anyway.

Messi famously hates to not play, even when doing so could put him at risk of further injury. Not every manager has the guts to save him from himself when necessary. Scaloni doesn’t have that problem. The pair were teammates at that 2006 World Cup in Germany, and there’s a trust level between the two men after winning three consecutive major competitions (one world title and two Copa Américas). 

Still, with the score still 2-1, it was no surprise to see Messi come on and try to pad the lead. It didn’t take him long, with the Barcelona legend beating Abulaila clean to seal the win and set yet another record, becoming the first player in the 96-year history of the World Cup to score in seven consecutive matches.

Lionel Messi scores free kick against Jordan, becomes first to score in SEVEN straight FIFA World Cup™ matches

–>

3. Beware A Rested Messi In The Knockout Stage

As much as Argentina showed that they can score without the living legend — and that they might not need to rely on him the way they did in 2022, when he scored seven times (including twice in the World Cup final), he remains their undisputed leader. He’s also making a case that even at his advanced age, he still might be the best player in the world. 

We’ll find out for sure now that the business end of the tournament is here, with each upcoming match potentially the end of an era if Argentina loses. But with Messi playing the way he has so far in the country he now calls home, who would bet against him emulating the great Pelé by leading his team to back-to-back World Cups for the first time since Brazil repeated all the way back in 1962.

4. Cape Verde Up Next For Argentina

While Jordan goes home from its first World Cup appearance 0-3, another debutant — the tiny West African island nation of Cape Verde — has been this tournament’s Cinderella story.

The Blue Sharks – led by breakout star Vozinha – tied title favorites Spain and two-time champions Uruguay in group play to advance against the longest odds. Now they get to play spoilers against the trophy holders. It seems like an impossible task, to be sure. But given what they’ve already accomplished so far, you can be certain that Scaloni and his battle-tested team won’t make the mistake of taking them lightly.

Jordan vs Argentina Extended Highlights | 2026 FIFA World Cup™

–> ]–>

Source

The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is set, and so is the path to the final.

For the first time in World Cup history, the knockout stage, which begins on Sunday, will feature 32 teams with 16 matchups before the field shrinks to 16 teams. From here on out, it is win or go home.

Here’s a look at the round of 32 bracket at the 2026 World Cup.

Sunday, June 28

South Africa vs. Canada

Los Angeles Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Canada finished second in Group B. South Africa finished second in Group A. 

Monday, June 29

Brazil vs. Japan

–>

Houston Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Brazil finished first in Group C. Japan finished second in Group F. 

Germany vs. Paraguay

Boston Stadium (4:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Germany finished first in Group E. Paraguay finished third in Group D.

Netherlands vs. Morocco

–>

Monterrey Stadium (9:00 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Netherlands finished first in Group F. Morocco finished second in Group C. 

Tuesday, June 30

Ivory Coast vs. Norway

Dallas Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Ivory Coast finished second in Group E. Norway finished second in Group I.

France vs. Sweden

–>

New York New Jersey Stadium (5 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

France finished first in Group I. Sweden finished third in Group F. 

Mexico vs. Ecuador

Mexico City Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Mexico finished first in Group A. Ecuador finished third in Group E. 

Wednesday, July 1

England vs. DR Congo

–>

Atlanta Stadium (12 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

England finished first in Group L. DR Congo topped Uzbekistan in the group-stage finale to finish third in Group K.

Belgium vs. Senegal

Seattle Stadium (4 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)

Belgium finished first in Group G. Senegal finished third in Group I. 

USA vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina

–>

San Francisco Bay Stadium (8 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

USA finished first in Group D. Bosnia and Herzegovina finished third in Group B. 

Thursday, July 2

Spain vs. Austria

Los Angeles Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

This game features the Group H winner vs. the Group J second-place finisher. Spain finished first in Group H. Austria finished second in Group J.

Portugal vs. Croatia

–>

Toronto Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Portugal finished second in Group K after a draw vs. group-winner Colombia. Croatia improved its standing with a victory over Ghana and finished second in Group L.

Switzerland vs. Algeria

BC Place Vancouver (11 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)

This game will feature the Group A winner vs. the Group G third-place finisher. Switzerland won Group A and Algeria finished third in Group J.

Friday, July 3

Australia vs. Egypt

–>

Dallas Stadium (2 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Egypt finished second in Group G. Australia finished second in Group D. 

Argentina vs. Cape Verde

Miami Stadium (6 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Argentina finished first in Group J. Cape Verde finished second in Group H. 

Colombia vs. Ghana

–>

Kansas City Stadium (9:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)

Colombia won Group K after a draw vs. Portugal, which finished the group in second. Ghana finished the group stage with a loss to Croatia and advanced after finishing third in Group L. 

Source

Lionel Messi and Argentina now know who they will face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32.

Argentina clinched the top spot in Group J with two wins in its first two matches. While it has yet to play its final group-stage match, its opponent has now been set following Friday’s round of group-stage finales.

Here is everything you need to know about Argentina’s round of 32 opponent:

Who Is Argentina’s Round Of 32 Opponent?

(Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images) –>

As the runner-up in Group H, Cape Verde, which is making its World Cup debut in 2026, will play reigning champions Argentina in the round of 32. Cape Verde finished Group H with three points after securing three points in three matches, including a 2-2 draw against Uruguay in its second group stage match. Cape Verde had +165 odds to advance to the round of 32 entering the tournament.

When Is Argentina vs. Cape Verde?

Argentina and Cape Verde will go head-to-head in the round of 32 on July 3 at Miami Stadium. This will mark Lionel Messi’s fourth time playing at Miami Stadium, with his most notable appearance coming in the 2024 Copa América final.

Messi plays for Inter Miami CF at the club level, but the MLS side plays all of its home matches at Nu Stadium in Miami.

Who Is Cape Verde’s Best Player?

(Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images) –>

On paper, Cape Verde’s statistical leader is Ryan Mendes, the team’s all-time leader in goals and appearances, but veteran goalkeeper Vozinha has become an overnight sensation after recording a seven-save clean sheet against Spain in Cape Verde’s World Cup opener.

]–>

Source