Author: Bernard Okumu

France begin their World Cup knockout campaign against Sweden at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with the winner advancing to face Paraguay in the Round of 16.

Didier Deschamps’ side enters the clash in red-hot form, having swept through Group I with a perfect record, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0, and Norway 4-1. Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have each scored four goals, forming one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking partnerships and giving France the joint-most goal combinations by a duo at a World Cup since 1966.

Sweden, who finished third in Group F behind the Netherlands and Japan, scored their most goals in a single World Cup group stage in history, with Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak proving a genuine attacking threat. However, their defence, already missing centre-back Isak Hien, has struggled throughout the tournament.

Opta’s supercomputer gives France a commanding 75.1 percent chance of winning in normal time, with Sweden at just 9.5 percent. Deschamps has urged caution despite the favourable odds, insisting his side cannot afford the margin for error they enjoyed in the group stage.

Ivory Coast face Erling Haaland’s Norway in a mouthwatering FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, with both sides chasing a place in the last 16.

The Elephants are looking to reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Ivory Coast finished second in Group E behind Germany, a campaign defined by resilience; they trailed for just three minutes and 29 seconds across the entire group stage, including their narrow 2-1 defeat to the already eliminated Germany.

Norway, by contrast, arrived in Dallas as one of the tournament’s form sides, powered by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who has been in fine form with four goals in two matches. Haaland was rested for Norway’s 4-1 defeat to France, a result that nonetheless confirmed Ivory Coast as their Round of 32 opponents. Captain Martin Ødegaard has also impressed, contributing two assists as Norway target their best-ever World Cup performance.

Ivory Coast’s hopes rest heavily on 19-year-old sensation Yan Diomande, who has driven the team’s attacking play with a tournament-leading 10 key passes and an assist, having played a starring role in wins over Ecuador and Curaçao. The Elephants’ defence, marshalled by highly rated centre-back Ousmane Diomande, will face a stern test against Haaland’s aerial and physical threat inside the box.

Bookmakers heavily favour Norway, with Opta’s supercomputer giving the Scandinavians a 56.1 percent chance of victory in regulation time, against just 21.6 percent for Ivory Coast. Right-back Wilfried Singo remains a doubt for the Elephants after missing their final group match through injury.

Ivory Coast will be hoping to extend the continent’s remarkable run as they bid to write a new chapter in their footballing history.

Paraguay produced one of the most stunning results in World Cup history, eliminating four-time champions Germany on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw through 120 minutes at Gillette Stadium.

The South Americans, ranked 41st in the world entering the tournament, took a surprise lead before halftime through Julio Enciso. Germany, ranked tenth, responded after the break when Kai Havertz rose to head home a cross from Florian Wirtz, levelling the score and setting up a tense finish to regulation.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time, and the drama only intensified in extra time. Germany thought they had snatched victory when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner, but the goal was overturned by VAR for an infringement on Paraguay’s goalkeeper, keeping the score level heading into the shootout.

What followed was chaos from the spot. Havertz, fresh off helping Arsenal to a Premier League title, missed Germany’s opening penalty, with Nick Woltemade also failing to convert. Paraguay had chances to close it out but squandered two of their own attempts, allowing Germany’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to drag his side back into contention with a crucial save. The shootout went to sudden death, where Tah’s effort sailed over the crossbar, leaving the door open for Paraguay’s Jose Canale to step up and calmly slot home the winning kick.

The defeat marked Germany’s first-ever penalty shootout loss at a World Cup. It ended their tournament at the round of 32 for the first time in the modern era, continuing a difficult run for the once-dominant nation. For Paraguay, the win represents a historic moment, sending them through to face the winner of the France-Sweden match in the round of 16 as they chase their deepest World Cup run since 2010.

Morocco booked their place in the World Cup last 16 after outlasting the Netherlands in a gripping penalty shootout, with the tie finishing 1-1 after extra time in Guadalupe, Mexico.

The Dutch looked to be cruising toward the next round when a flicked header from a late substitute released Crysencio Summerville down the left, who squared for Cody Gakpo to finish calmly in the 72nd minute. The goal carried extra emotional weight, with Gakpo visibly overcome in the celebrations just days after he and his partner had shared news of a painful personal loss.

Morocco refused to fold. With the clock running down, defender Issa Diop rose highest at the back post to head home a stoppage-time equaliser, snatching the game away from the Dutch and forcing extra time.

The additional 30 minutes produced few clear-cut openings, though Morocco came agonisingly close to snatching a winner late on. Soufiane Rahimi worked his way into a one-on-one with the Dutch goalkeeper but was denied by a brilliant reflex save, leaving the contest to be settled from the spot.

The shootout swung back and forth before Morocco’s goalkeeper made the decisive intervention, getting a strong hand to deny one of Netherlands’ attempts. With the pressure mounting, Ismael Saibari stepped up and rolled his penalty calmly into the corner to send Morocco through.

The defeat ended the Netherlands’ tournament at its earliest stage in the nation’s World Cup history, a disappointing exit for a side many had tipped to go deep. Morocco, meanwhile, advance to face co-hosts Canada in the last 16, looking to build on the momentum that carried them to the semifinals four years ago.

Gabriel Martinelli delivered a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Brazil came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in the World Cup last 32, sending the Selecao through to a last-16 meeting with either Norway or Ivory Coast.

Japan took the lead in the first half through Kaishu Sano, but Brazil drew level in the 56th minute when Casemiro headed home. With the tie heading toward extra time, Bruno Guimarães pounced on a defensive lapse from Ao Tanaka and slipped a delicate pass through to Martinelli, who finished calmly into the far corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

The result was historic for Carlo Ancelotti’s side: it marked the first time since their 2002 World Cup triumph that Brazil had won a knockout match after trailing. For Japan, the defeat continued a painful record, as they have now lost every knockout-stage match they’ve played at the World Cup, leaving Australia as the last AFC side still in the tournament.

Brazil dominated possession and chances throughout, with Vinícius Júnior also going close before Casemiro headed the equalising goal in the 56th minute to level for Brazil. Martinelli’s late heroics settled the contest. The Arsenal winger’s introduction off the bench proved decisive, capping a night of late drama in Houston.

The final group stage rounds at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are upon us, with Group A still hanging in the balance.

South Africa face the Republic of Korea on Wednesday in a decisive football match that will spell the end of the road for at least one side.

The match is scheduled 4.00am and will be beamed live by KBC Channel 1.

While Mexico have already secured the top spot and their ticket to the next round, second place is still up for grabs.

The Republic of Korea are in the strongest position to progress with three points on the board, and a win would see them safely through to the Round of 32.

Should South Africa pick up their first win of the tournament after a loss and a draw, their hopes of progressing would be dependent on the Czech Republic’s result against Mexico.

Fresh off its first FIFA World Cup victory, Canada faces Switzerland with a chance to take another step forward in Group B.

Co-hosts Canada face Switzerland as Group B matches conclude tonight .The match which will be played at  BC Place Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is set to kick off at 10PM East Africa Time.

Qatar and Bosnia Herzegovina face off  in their final encounter with elimination looking imminent.

The Reds are coming off their first-ever World Cup victory with a 6-nil rout of Qatar on Thursday, marking the first time a Concacaf nation scores six goals in a World Cup match. Jonathan David led the way with a hat trick to help secure the three points.

Switzerland enjoyed a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, in part to a brace from Johan Manzambi.

Both teams enter this match tied with four points each and the top spot in Group B up for grabs. Canada holds the advantage on goal differential, which could play a big role.

Canada is looking to advance out of the group stage for the first time ever in World Cup history, and it can secure the top spot with a win or a draw. Winning the group would guarantee Jesse Marsch’s squad at least one more home game in Vancouver in the Round of 32.