The World Cup last 16 begins this weekend with four ties worth staying up for
The World Cup knockouts resume this weekend with four last-16 ties, from Mexico’s unbeaten Azteca fortress to a Vinicius-versus-Haaland duel at MetLife. Here is what to watch, and when to catch it in India.
Jul 2, 2026
The 48-team World Cup has already eaten a few giants, and the appetite is not gone yet. Germany are on a plane home. The Netherlands went out on penalties. What is left in the top half of the bracket is a set of last-16 ties that mix the expected heavyweights with a couple of sides nobody had circled back in June. The knockouts resume on July 4, and for Indian viewers most of the drama lands well after midnight. Here are the four games opening the round, and why each is worth setting an alarm for.
Canada and Morocco, two teams playing with house money
Canada get the round under way against Morocco in Houston, and both arrive carrying a bit of history. Canada had never won a knockout match at a World Cup until they edged South Africa 1-0 in the last 32, so this is fresh ground for a host nation that spent years as tournament makeweights. Morocco, by contrast, know exactly what a deep run feels like after their 2022 semi-final, and they came through a nervy shootout against the Netherlands to get here.
It is the kind of tie that looks even on paper and could tip on a single moment. Morocco carry the bigger-stage experience, but a home crowd is a real thing in this tournament, and Canada have played without fear so far. Kick-off is 10:30pm IST on July 4.
France meet the tournament’s great gatecrashers
France look every bit the side that reached the last final, and they backed it up with a 3-0 win over Sweden in which Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Bradley Barcola added the second. On current form they are among the two or three teams you would trust to go all the way.
Paraguay are the reason this game is not a formality. They knocked out four-time champions Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw, winning the shootout 4-3, and they have made a habit of dragging better sides into exactly that kind of fight. France should win in Philadelphia, and probably will. But Paraguay have already proved they do not read the script, and a France team chasing the trophy they lost in 2022 cannot afford a slow start. This one begins at 2:30am IST on July 5.
Vinicius against Haaland, finally on the same pitch
Brazil versus Norway at MetLife is the tie the neutrals wanted. Brazil scraped past Japan 2-1 thanks to a Gabriel Martinelli winner deep into stoppage time, a result that flattered them and told them plenty about the gaps in their game. Norway, meanwhile, are living a dream, and most of it wears number nine. Erling Haaland has five goals in three matches and sits one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, and his 86th-minute winner against Ivory Coast gave Norway their first knockout win at a World Cup.
The billing writes itself. Vinicius Junior has been Brazil’s most dangerous attacker all tournament, and he now runs at a Norway side that will have to defend deep and hope Haaland punishes whatever chances come. If Brazil switch off at the back the way they did against Japan, Norway have the one player capable of making them pay. Kick-off is 1:30am IST on July 6.
England walk into the Azteca
The pick of the round is saved for last. Mexico have not conceded a goal at this World Cup, winning all four of their games at a heaving Estadio Azteca, and they beat Ecuador 2-0 to reach the last 16. England got here the hard way, needing a late Harry Kane double to see off a stubborn DR Congo 2-1, and they have looked more functional than fluent under the weight of expectation.
Now they travel to the one venue that can swallow a visiting team whole. The Azteca sits at over 2,000 metres, the noise is relentless, and Mexico have turned it into a fortress this summer. England have the better squad on names, but names have come unstuck in that stadium before. If Mexico’s defence holds the way it has all tournament, this could be the tie that produces the round’s biggest scalp. It closes the weekend at 5:30am IST on July 6.
A weekend that thins the field
By the time these four games are done, half of the top bracket will be gone and the quarter-final picture will start to sharpen. France and Brazil are the sides expected to come through, but this tournament has spent two weeks making a fool of expectation. If you can only stay up for one, make it the Azteca.