The last 32 wraps up: Germany and the Netherlands out, Messi leads the scoring, and here are the round-of-16 ties

The round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup has come down, leaving a last-16 bracket with a distinct flavour of upset. Two European giants, Germany and the Netherlands, fell at the first knockout hurdle; Egypt pulled off a historic feat; and debutants Cabo Verde came within a whisker of toppling the world champions. With all sixteen matches played, these are the eight ties that will decide the quarter-finalists.

The shock of the round was Germany, knocked out by Paraguay on penalties (1-1, 4-3 in the shootout) after failing to break down a spirited Albirroja. In the same run of shootouts, Morocco eliminated the Netherlands (1-1, 3-2), repeating the script they wrote at Qatar 2022. Croatia, runners-up in 2018, bowed out to Portugal (2-1, with a Gonçalo Ramos goal in the 90th minute), and Egypt saw off Australia from the spot too (1-1, 4-2) to reach the last 16 of a World Cup for the first time in their history. On the other side were Cabo Verde's debutants, who forced extra time against Argentina and only fell to an own goal.

Among the favourites, the most emphatic wins carried Latin and French hallmarks: France thumped Sweden (3-0) and Spain did likewise to Austria (3-0, an Oyarzabal double). Brazil laboured more than expected against Japan (2-1), Mexico saw off Ecuador (2-0), England beat DR Congo (2-1) and Belgium won a thrilling 3-2 against Senegal. Argentina needed extra time to subdue Cabo Verde (3-2), with Messi decisive once more. The bracket was completed by Canada (1-0 over South Africa), Norway (2-1 over Ivory Coast), Switzerland (2-0 over Algeria), the United States (2-0 over Bosnia) and Colombia (1-0 over Ghana).

The round of 16, played between 4 and 7 July, throws up some high-voltage ties. The headline act is the Iberian derby Portugal-Spain, a peninsular classic for a place in the quarters. Canada-Morocco and Paraguay-France get things going; then come Brazil-Norway —pitting Vinícius against Haaland—, Mexico-England and United States-Belgium; and closing it out are Argentina-Egypt, which sets Messi against the Egyptian surprise, and Switzerland-Colombia. Eight matches, eight quarter-final tickets up for grabs.

In the race for the Golden Boot, Lionel Messi has pulled clear on his own with seven goals after his strike against Cabo Verde. Kylian Mbappé follows on six, with Erling Haaland and Harry Kane just behind on five apiece. On four are Ousmane Dembélé, Mikel Oyarzabal, Vinícius Júnior and Ismaïla Sarr, though the latter is already out with Senegal. The juiciest stat: the tournament's four top scorers —Messi, Mbappé, Haaland and Kane— are all still standing and promise fireworks in the decisive phase.

With the big names now sifted and a couple of giants unexpectedly gone, the 2026 World Cup enters its most demanding stretch: single-elimination football, where a mistake is punished dearly and there is no way back. You can follow the full bracket, the kick-off times and how it all unfolds on our knockout page.