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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...

Four-time winners Germany are out of the 2026 World Cup They lost to Paraguay in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Author | Ed Stadium | Boston Stadium Arsenal forward Kai Havertz and Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade both saw their penalties saved by goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Paraguay were handed two opportunities to seal victory but Antonio Sanabria fired wide before Fabian Balbuena's effort was kept out by the evergreen 40-year-old Manuel Neuer. In sudden death, Jonathan Tah blazed his penalty over the bar before defender Jose Canale calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to secure a 4-3 shootout victory and send Paraguay into the quarter-finals. A closer analysis of what happened Earlier, former Brighton and Ipswich forward Julio Enciso had given Paraguay a surprise lead with a header in the 42nd minute. Germany responded with far greater urgency after the break and levelled when Havertz glanced home a header from a pinpoint cross by Liverpool mi...

Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner  Brazil came from behind to beat Japan and set up a World Cup last-16 tie against Norway or Ivory Coast. Author | James Y Stadium | Houston Stadium With only seconds remaining, Brazil won the ball back on the edge of the Japan penalty area and Bruno Guimaraes slipped a pass into Martinelli, who took a touch before calmly steering his finish in off the post. Watch | Video from SportsIllustrated  It was a cruel ending for Japan, who had matched Brazil throughout the first half and defended resolutely after the interval. Carlo Ancelotti's side, however, kept pressing and were rewarded at the very end. The key moments from the match Japan looked composed before the break and took the lead when Kaishu Sano seized on Danilo's loose pass, surged past Casemiro and drilled a low finish into the bottom corner. Brazil struggled to respond before half-time but emerged with greater purpose after the restart. Casemiro climbed highest t...