France, Messi and co-hosts stand out as World Cup reaches last 16
Al Jazeera reported that Europe set the pace in the last 32, while Argentina, Morocco, Egypt and the three co-hosts also advanced.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
The 2026 World Cup has moved into the Round of 16 after a last-32 stage that reshaped the tournament picture. Al Jazeera reported that European sides set the pace, France looked the most fluent contender, and several traditional powers endured another early exit.
Seven UEFA teams reached the next round, according to Al Jazeera: France, Norway, Belgium, England, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. CONCACAF also has three teams alive, with co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States giving the region three last-16 representatives for the first time since 2014.
South America has four teams remaining: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay. Paraguay produced one of the round’s biggest results by eliminating Germany on penalties in Foxborough, Massachusetts, after pushing through the group stage and then crossing the United States for the knockout tie, Al Jazeera reported.
France lead a strong European group
France’s attack has been the tournament’s standard so far, according to Al Jazeera. Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise impressed in the group stage, while Bradley Barcola came off the bench and added speed in a 3-0 win over Sweden.
Belgium and England both had to come from difficult matches against African opponents. Al Jazeera reported that Belgium recovered from two goals down against Senegal before Youri Tielemans and Romelu Lukaku forced extra time, with Tielemans later scoring the penalty that made it 3-2.
England beat DR Congo 2-1 behind goals from Harry Kane. Portugal also moved through with a 2-1 win over Croatia, helped by a VAR decision that used ball-chip technology to rule out a Croatian equaliser deep into stoppage time, according to Al Jazeera.
Germany’s exit deepens concerns
Germany joined Italy, which did not qualify, and Uruguay, which went out in the group stage, among former powers no longer in the tournament. Al Jazeera reported that Germany’s loss to Paraguay was its first World Cup defeat on penalties and its first penalty shootout loss since the 1976 European Championship.
Julian Nagelsmann, who has since left the Germany job, said after the defeat that Germany was no longer among the top-tier teams because it had suffered a third straight elimination, according to Al Jazeera. The report said Jurgen Klopp may replace him.
African teams influence the knockout stage
Al Jazeera reported that Cape Verde pushed Argentina into extra time before losing 3-2 on a 111th-minute own goal by Diney Borges. Algeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa all exited in the Round of 32.
Egypt and Morocco advanced with more defensive approaches, according to Al Jazeera. Egypt beat Australia on penalties, while Morocco knocked out the Netherlands after an injury-time goal from Issa Diop and a strong shootout display by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Messi tops scoring race
Lionel Messi scored Argentina’s opener against Cape Verde and now has seven goals at the tournament, Al Jazeera reported. Mbappe scored twice against Sweden and has six, while Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Kane have five each.
Messi also leads the all-time World Cup scoring list with 20 goals, two ahead of Mbappe, according to Al Jazeera.
The co-hosts remain a major part of the story. Mexico extended its unbeaten World Cup run at Estadio Azteca and has not conceded for 360 minutes, while the United States beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 but lost Folarin Balogun to suspension after a red card. Canada defeated South Africa in Los Angeles on a stoppage-time Stephen Eustaquio goal and will face Morocco in Houston, Al Jazeera reported.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.