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World Cup favourites France were forced to work hard to secure their place in the quarter-finals Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty enough to edge past a determined Paraguay in Philadelphia. Author | James Y Stadium | Philadelphia Stadium Paraguay restricted the two-time champions to very few clear openings until substitute Desire Doue was brought down inside the penalty area by Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) review. Mbappe confidently converted the penalty, sending Orlando Gill the wrong way to book France's place in the last eight. His seventh goal of the tournament also saw him draw level with Argentina great Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. The last-16 tie began in searing heat, with temperatures climbing to 38C, yet France quickly established control of possession. Even so, Paraguay's disciplined defensive display proved difficult to breach and France's frustration bec...

Canada became the first co-host nation to exit the 2026 World Cup  It was, in the end, a convincing victory by Morocco in Houston. Author | James Y Stadium | Houston Stadium Morocco, who struggled to find their rhythm during an ill-tempered first half, went ahead five minutes after the restart through Azzedine Ounahi. Ounahi swept home Achraf Hakimi's cut-back from a cleverly worked free kick after the Canada defence failed to close him down on the edge of the area. The Girona midfielder doubled his tally with eight minutes remaining, finishing a swift counter-attack to put the result beyond doubt. An increasingly comfortable victory was completed in stoppage time when Soufiane Rahimi slid his finish beneath goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. It was a harsh outcome for Canada They had made the brighter start in Texas and could easily have been ahead inside the opening stages. Morocco now advance and move to within one victory of matching their historic run to the semi-finals at the 2022 Wo...

Argentina needed a 111th-minute Diney Borges own goal to avoid one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. The holders edged past heroic debutants Cape Verde in the last 32. Author | Sean M Stadium | Miami Stadium The side ranked 64th in the Fifa world rankings twice fought back to level against opponents who sit second in the world. With the score 1-1 after 90 minutes, the underdogs forced their celebrated opponents into extra time. Lisandro Martínez then appeared to have won it for Argentina with an excellent finish in the 92nd minute. But Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the goals of the tournament 11 minutes later, cutting in from the left before curling a superb strike over goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and into the top corner to make it 2-2. Cabral, enjoying the finest night of his career, almost completed a remarkable victory when he forced an outstanding save from Martínez four minutes from the end of extra time. Cape Verde, however, could not find a third equaliser to tak...

Goncalo Ramos scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner after Cristiano Ronaldo netted his first goal in a World Cup knockout  These goals meant Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia and reach the last 16. Author | Josh T Stadium | Toronto Stadium Second-half substitute Ramos climbed above two Croatia defenders to head home a superb cross from Rafael Leao just as an absorbing contest appeared destined for extra time. Josko Gvardiol believed he had rescued Croatia when he bundled the ball home in the 13th minute of stoppage time, but the video assistant referee intervened and the goal was ruled out for offside. Replays showed Igor Matanovic had made the slightest touch on the cross before it reached Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position before Gvardiol applied the finish. A closer analysis of what happened Portugal controlled much of the first half, but Croatia edged a breathless second period. Ivan Perisic fired into the corner eight minutes after the restart after Ruben Dia...

Youri Tielemans converted a penalty deep into extra time as Belgium staged a remarkable fightback  They recovered from two goals down to beat Senegal in a dramatic World Cup last-32 tie. Author | Ajay Stadium | Seattle Stadium The last-gasp victory secured a place in the last 16, where they will face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina. Rudi Garcia's side appeared destined for elimination as they trailed an impressive Senegal by two goals with only four minutes of normal time remaining. However, half-time substitute Romelu Lukaku flicked home Thomas Meunier's cross to offer Belgium a route back into the contest. They seized that opportunity in the 89th minute when Leandro Trossard's cross into the area was missed by goalkeeper Mory Diaw, allowing captain Tielemans to head home the equaliser and force extra time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super News Affiliate (@supernewsaffiliate) Earlier, the Belgian pair had been invol...

England avoided one of the greatest shocks in their World Cup history Harry Kane's two late goals inspired a dramatic comeback against DR Congo in Atlanta and secured a place in the last 16. Author | George B Stadium | Atlanta Stadium Thomas Tuchel's side were just 15 minutes from a humiliating exit after Brian Cipenga had given DR Congo an early lead. That was when captain and talisman Harry Kane took centre stage. He headed in the equaliser after 75 minutes before producing a brilliant winner with four minutes remaining, turning sharply and firing an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net. DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced a series of outstanding saves to frustrate England, although Yoane Wissa struck the post with the goal at his mercy on the stroke of half-time. That miss proved crucial as England, who had delivered a deeply underwhelming display for much of the contest, were kept alive. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Super N...

Mexico cruised into the last 16 of the World Cup This was a comfortable victory over Ecuador in a weather-delayed contest. Author | James Y Stadium | Azteca Stadium Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez handed the co-hosts a commanding lead in an exhilarating first half, before they produced a composed display after the interval to secure their first knockout stage victory since 1986. Manager Javier Aguirre's side will now remain in Mexico City for their last-16 tie. A closer analysis as Mexican dreams stay alive A thunderstorm in the Mexican capital delayed kick-off by an hour, but once the skies cleared Ecuador struggled to cope with both the fervent atmosphere and a home side who burst out of the blocks. Mexico created four chances inside the opening 10 minutes and, although John Yeboah struck the woodwork for Ecuador, they were second best throughout the opening period and unable to live with Mexico's intensity across the pitch. It was one of Mexico's most impress...