The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is not letting up.
A day after Morocco stunned the Netherlands and Paraguay sent Germany home, Wednesday’s Round of 32 action delivered three more winners—France, Norway, and Mexico—each advancing to the Round of 16 with results that ranged from the dominant to the dramatic. The bracket is filling out fast, and the names still standing are formidable.
Kylian Mbappe Puts on a Show in New Jersey
If there was any doubt that France was the tournament’s most dangerous team, Kylian Mbappe erased it at MetLife Stadium.
The French striker scored twice as France rolled past Sweden 3-0 in East Rutherford, extending his tournament goal tally to six—level with Lionel Messi atop the scoring charts—and pushing his career World Cup record to 18 goals in 18 matches. One behind Messi’s all-time record of 19. He is chasing history in real time, and France just keeps winning.
Sweden manager Graham Potter had warned his team would need the game of their lives to contain France’s attack. They came close in the first half—holding France scoreless until Mbappe broke through on the stroke of halftime, jinking into space and rifling home with the kind of finish that makes defending him feel futile. Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 eight minutes into the second half, and Mbappe added the third in the 74th to close the deal.
“I know who I am and what I’ve got to do, but it’s not just me,” Mbappe told beIN Sports after the match. “I think the team is perfectly aware of what we have to do here.”
France now faces Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday. Yes—that Paraguay. The one that beat Germany in a penalty shootout two days ago. That is a genuinely compelling Round of 16 matchup.
Erling Haaland Saves Norway with a Late Winner
Erling Haaland has five World Cup goals in three games. Norway has its first-ever knockout stage win. Both of those sentences are equally remarkable.
The Manchester City striker rescued Norway in Arlington, Texas, sweeping home an 86th-minute winner to give the Norwegians a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast at the AT&T Stadium. Norway had led through Antonio Nusa’s opener before Amad Diallo equalized for the Ivorians. Then Haaland, as he tends to do, made the difference when it mattered most.
Ivory Coast nearly snatched it in injury time—Diallo’s curling free kick destined for the top corner was tipped away by goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to preserve the result.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken had taken heat for benching Haaland and fielding a second-string side in their final group game—a 4-1 beating by France that left the Norwegians embarrassed. With one late goal, the conversation has shifted entirely.
“To score five goals in the World Cup in three games, for a little country like Norway—I wouldn’t swap him for anyone,” Solbakken said. “Because he’s the greatest goalscorer in the world of football today.”
Norway now faces Brazil on Sunday. Haaland against a Brazilian defense that just survived a scare from Japan. It is the kind of matchup that the knockout stage exists to produce.
Mexico Makes History at the Azteca—Again
Co-host Mexico kept its perfect home record intact, dispatching Ecuador 2-0 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City after a torrential rain delay pushed kickoff back by an hour. The Azteca remains an unconquered fortress for El Tri in World Cup competition—and Mexico made sure of that emphatically.
Julian Quinones lashed in a spectacular opener in the 22nd minute, and Raul Jimenez added a fine second nine minutes later to effectively settle matters before the half-hour mark. Ecuador—who had finished second in South American qualifying behind only Argentina—rarely threatened a comeback. Mexico return to the Azteca on Sunday for the Round of 16, where they will face either DR Congo or England.
The Round of 32 has now sent Germany and the Netherlands home, advanced Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, and Paraguay, and produced some of the tournament’s most memorable individual moments. The Round of 16 begins Saturday.
It is only getting better from here
