Mexico advance at World Cup as Ecuador see red
DR Congo, set to face England in the 2026 World Cup round of 32, previously appeared at a World Cup under a different national name.
France sweep Sweden 3-0 in the last 32 as Kylian Mbappé and company impress. Graham Potter praises opponents, saying there is ‘no shame’ as Sweden bow out with optimism for future growth.
Group stage stats: 215 goals in 72 games, 2.98 per match, BTTS 54.1%, over 2.5 at 55.6%, clean sheets 55.6% including seven 0-0s, first scorer wins 84.6% of decisive games, average 2.66 cards. Livescore
USMNT top Group D despite a late loss to Türkiye and face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, eyeing only their second ever World Cup knockout win under Mauricio Pochettino.
England lose Jarrell Quansah and Reece James for DR Congo tie, Bukayo Saka expected fit. Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 after delay, Hincapié sent off for covering mouth, and FIFA defend Germany VAR call.
Arsenal bid for Brazil World Cup midfielder Bruno Guimarães is rejected, but £65m could tempt Newcastle. The 28-year-old, influential for Brazil, is weighing his future after standout displays.
South Africa return home after a historic 2026 World Cup, reaching the round of 32 before a 1-0 loss to co-hosts Canada. Bafana land at OR Tambo on Thursday as focus shifts to 2027 Afcon qualifiers.
Cristian Romero trains fully and is set to start Argentina’s last-16 tie vs Cabo Verde, reuniting with Lisandro Martínez as Scaloni’s first-choice pairing, with Nicolás Otamendi dropping to backup.
Homophobic chant heard from Mexico fans during the World Cup round of 32 vs Ecuador, repeated at Hernán Galíndez’s goal kicks. FIFA have previously fined the federation for the slur.
Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca to win a World Cup knockout tie for the first time since 1986. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez struck, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora impressed, and Piero Hincapié saw red.
After Germany’s VAR-disallowed goal in their World Cup loss to Paraguay, Emmanuel Petit criticised Jurgen Klopp for citing Arsenal’s set-piece record to question the decision, stressing differing standards.
Erling Haaland hit a late winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 for their first World Cup knockout win, taking his tally to five in three games and setting up a last-16 tie with Brazil.
Ecuador’s Piero Hincapié was sent off late against Mexico for covering his mouth in a confrontation, violating a new World Cup rule. Mexico won 2-0 to reach the round of 16 against England or DR Congo.
Joan Laporta says the renovated Spotify Camp Nou is ‘the ideal stage’ for the 2030 World Cup final, with Barcelona set to vie with the Santiago Bernabéu and Morocco’s Hassan II Stadium.
Round of 16 fantasy differentials flagged: Digne, Spence, Mazraoui in defence, Barcola, Anderson, Mac Allister in midfield, and Alvarado, Sarr, Lautaro up front, targeting scouting bonus and clean sheets.
