FIFA World Cup 2026: Round of 16 Stage is Set

Sports Desk, Rtv News

Publish : 04 Jul 2026, 04:41 PM

Representational Image

The FIFA World Cup 2026 shifts into high gear this Saturday as the tournament enters its exhilarating knockout phase.

Following a tense Round of 32 that saw several football heavyweights survive and others face dramatic exits, 16 nations remain standing, each vying for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.

The lineup for the Round of 16 features a diverse array of global talent, including Canada, Brazil, Paraguay, Morocco, Norway, France, Mexico, England, Belgium, the United States, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Egypt, Argentina and Colombia.

The path to this stage was paved with high-stakes tension. Canada secured their progression with a narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa, while Brazil edged out Japan 2-1.

Penalty shootouts proved to be the ultimate test for several teams: Paraguay knocked out Germany 4-3 on spot-kicks, Morocco sent the Netherlands packing with a 3-2 shootout win, and Egypt eliminated Australia 4-2.

Elsewhere, France delivered a commanding 3-0 performance against Sweden, while Spain mirrored that dominance in a 3-0 victory over Austria.

Norway advanced past Ivory Coast 2-1, England squeezed past DR Congo 2-1, and Portugal overcame Croatia by the same margin.

Belgium clinched a thrilling 3-2 win against Senegal, the United States maintained defensive composure in a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mexico comfortably beat Ecuador 2-0 and Switzerland shut out Algeria 2-0.

Argentina’s journey continues following a hard-fought 3-2 win over Cape Verde, while Colombia rounds out the list after a gritty 1-0 triumph over Ghana.

Messi Writes Two New Chapters in World Cup History

Individually, all eyes remain on Argentina’s talisman, Lionel Messi, who notched his seventh goal of the tournament against Cape Verde.

Messi currently leads the race for the prestigious Golden Boot award, cementing his status as the player to watch as the knockout rounds unfold.

Date	Fixture	Bangladesh Time (BST)	Venue
Sat, July 4	Canada vs Morocco	11 pm	Houston
Sun, July 5	Paraguay vs France	3 am (July 5)	Philadelphia
Sun, July 5	Brazil vs Norway	2 am (July 6)	New York/NJ
Mon, July 6	Mexico vs England	6 am (July 6)	Mexico City
Mon, July 6	Portugal vs Spain	1 am (July 7)	Dallas
Tue, July 7	United States vs Belgium	6 am (July 7)	Seattle
Tue, July 7	Argentina vs Egypt	10 pm (July 7)	Atlanta
Wed, July 8	Switzerland vs Colombia	2 am (July 8)	Vancouver

Source: AL Jazeera

Follow google news channel to get RTV news Google News

Related More News

PSG Secure Thrilling Away Victory Against Manchester City

Despite Erling Haaland's efforts to spark a comeback, Manchester City could not be rescued as defending champions Paris Saint-Germain handed them a 4-2 defeat away from home in the UEFA Champions League.

Messi's Inter Miami Book Playoffs with 2-0 Win over New York City

Lionel Messi set up a Rodrigo De Paul goal and German Berterame snapped his scoring drought as Inter Miami booked their place in the MLS playoffs with a 2-0 win over New York City FC on Wednesday.

Afghanistan Hold On for Incredible Draw, Leaving Bangladesh Frustrated

Entering the final day needing seven wickets for victory, Bangladesh were comfortably positioned as favorites to seal the match. The Tigers' bowlers periodically chipped away at the batting order to keep their winning hopes alive, but a series of missed opportunities ultimately led to disappointment for Najmul Hossain Shanto’s side.

Ronaldo Shines Again as 1,000-Goal Milestone Beckons

Amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding his national team duties, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to light up club football.

Infantino Could Pull Off 'Houdini' Act as Critics Struggle for Candidate

Gianni Infantino could survive weeks of criticism and secure re-election as FIFA president in the absence of a heavy hitter to challenge him, observers have told AFP.