The 2026 World Cup has reached an exciting stage as FIFA has confirmed the 16 teams that will compete in the Round of 16. This knockout phase promises thrilling matchups, with eight pairs of teams ready to battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

In a gripping Round of 16 match, Australia faced Egypt at AT&T Stadium in the United States. Despite a determined effort, Australia was unable to secure a victory. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout where Egypt triumphed 4-2. This victory marked a historic moment for Egypt, as it was their first win in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Egypt will now face the reigning champions, Argentina, who advanced after a challenging match against Cape Verde. Argentina won 3-2, with Lionel Messi and Lisandro Martinez scoring for the South American team. Cape Verde put up a strong fight, equalizing twice before an own goal by Diney Borges sealed Argentina's victory in the 111th minute.

On July 4th, Colombia also secured its place in the Round of 16 by defeating Ghana 1-0, thanks to a goal from Jhon Arias. Colombia will now take on Switzerland, and if they succeed, they could potentially meet Argentina in the quarter-finals. Historically, Colombia's best performance in the World Cup was reaching the quarter-finals in 2014.

Overall, the 16 teams advancing to the Round of 16 include France, Paraguay, Canada, Morocco, the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, England, Portugal, Spain, Egypt, Argentina, and Colombia. The matchups for the Round of 16 are as follows:

• France vs. Paraguay
• Morocco vs. Canada
• United States vs. Belgium
• Brazil vs. Norway
• Mexico vs. England
• Portugal vs. Spain
• Egypt vs. Argentina
• Colombia vs. Switzerland

The Round of 16 will kick off tonight with the match between host nation Canada and Morocco at NRG Stadium in the United States, scheduled for midnight on July 5th.