The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 has begun with two entertaining knockout matches, as Morocco and France became the first teams to secure places in the quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions defeated one of the host nations, Canada, 3-0, while Les Bleus edged Paraguay 1-0 in a tense and highly physical encounter.
Morocco Beat Canada 3-0 to Reach the Quarter-finals
Morocco continued their impressive World Cup campaign after booking a place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada on July 4.
Playing against one of the tournament’s co-hosts, the Atlas Lions adopted an attacking approach from the opening whistle. However, it was far from an easy contest as Canada produced an energetic first-half display and created several dangerous opportunities.
Nevertheless, Jesse Marsch’s side failed to convert their chances, allowing Morocco to grow into the game after the break.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s men finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute through Azzedine Ounahi. The midfielder doubled Morocco’s advantage in the 82nd minute after finishing a swift counter-attack to put his side firmly in control.
Finally, Brahim Díaz wrapped up an excellent team performance with a late third goal, sealing a memorable 3-0 victory and sending the Atlas Lions into the last eight.
France Survive Physical Paraguay Test
Meanwhile, France also secured their place in the quarter-finals after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in one of the most physical matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 so far.
As expected, Les Bleus dominated possession from the opening whistle but found it difficult to break down Paraguay’s disciplined defensive structure.
Rather than committing players forward, Los Guaraníes focused on frustrating France with a compact defensive setup and an extremely physical approach. Throughout the match, Paraguay committed several robust challenges that repeatedly disrupted France’s attacking rhythm.
The officiating also became a major talking point after referee Ilgiz Tantashev allowed several heavy challenges to go unpunished. Despite Paraguay committing numerous non-football challenges during the contest, none of their players received a yellow card, a decision that sparked widespread discussion among fans and football observers after the final whistle.
Nevertheless, France kept their composure despite the physical battle and the difficult weather conditions. Didier Deschamps’ side remained patient before finally finding the breakthrough in the 70th minute, when Kylian Mbappé calmly converted a penalty after Désiré Doué was brought down inside the box.
Although Les Bleus created several more opportunities to extend their advantage, one goal proved enough to secure victory and a place in the quarter-finals without suffering any major injury setbacks.
France will now face Morocco in what promises to be one of the standout quarter-final clashes of the FIFA World Cup 2026. With both teams enjoying impressive runs, the encounter is expected to be one of the tournament’s most exciting fixtures so far.
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Results (So Far)
| Date | Match | Result | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 July | Morocco vs Canada | 3-0 | ⚽ Azzedine Ounahi (50′, 82′), Brahim Díaz (90′) |
| 4 July | France vs Paraguay | 1-0 | ⚽ Kylian Mbappé (70′ pen.) |
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Quarter-finals (Confirmed So Far)
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 10 July 2026 | France vs Morocco | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
