FIFA World Cup 2026: Biggest takeaways from the round of 16
The last-16 phase is now behind us, with plenty of key talking points as the tournament enters the quarterfinals. European teams swept through the World
The last-16 phase is now behind us, with plenty of key talking points as the tournament enters the quarterfinals. European teams swept through the World Cup round of 16, leaving Argentina and Morocco as the only non-UEFA countries standing. Morocco did not need Ismael Saibari against Canada, but the Atlas Lions will miss him if they hope to match their 2022 achievement of reaching the semifinal. Egypt, Africa’s other round of 16 representative, had Argentina on the ropes but fell victim to some questionable calls and non-calls. Hossam Hassan accused officials of favouring Argentina, and he was not the first to do so. The USA and President Donald Trump took their case to FIFA and got a Folarin Balogun red card overturned. But they found there is such a thing as sporting justice in the form of a 4-1 loss to Belgium. Lionel Messi kept Argentinian and South American hopes alive, but five-time champion Brazil unsuccessfully adopted Italian-style catenaccio; Colombia failed to find the target (one goal in its last three matches); and Paraguay stuck to its pesky identity, but couldn’t shake up France. The only UEFA team to go out in the round was Portugal, falling to Spain 1-0 in Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance. The Golden Boot race is on Messi had a penalty kick saved by Mostafa Shobeir, but fired in an 83rd-minute equaliser off a rebound for goal No 8 of this World Cup – and record 21st of his career. Kylian Mbappe upped his totals to seven for the tournament and 19 of his career with a 70th-minute penalty kick against Paraguay.
Erling Haaland finished two Andreas Schjelderup assists to tie Mbappe with seven goals. Harry Kane’s penalty kick against Mexico gave him six goals. Sporting karma is gonna get you Poetic justice? Or was it simply Belgian superiority position-by-position? The USA’s 4-1 elimination by Belgium in Seattle ended a hopeful run that attracted record television audiences, but ended with the team’s limitations being exposed. The Red Devils broke the press with Thibaut Courtois’s long balls, broke down the wings via Dodi Lukebakio and Leandro Trossard, found Charles De Ketelaere with crosses and capitalised on defensive carelessness. The USA was impressive going all out against Paraguay in its opener and defeated a European opponent (Bosnia and Herzegovina) for the first time since 2002, but struggled to change gears against Turkiye and the Belgians. As for that red card decision, it only served to motivate the Red Devils, and for Romelo Lukaku to show off a Trump-inspired dance step. Welcome to the neighbourhood Like the US, Canada is high-press first, ask questions later – no surprise, as its coach is former USA national team midfielder Jesse Marsch. Morocco absorbed everything the Maple Leafs could throw at it, then found openings in the second half of a 3-0 victory. The Canadians and their southern neighbours need to implement an alternative to all-out, all-the-time pressing. Hard-charging and double-teaming tactics don’t always work, especially against superior opposition. The Atlas Lions showed they do not have to be at their best to win, and Soufiane Rahimi’s emergence gives them an alternative to Saibari up front.
The BriefWire