Yassine Bounou #1 of Morocco punches the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at Houston Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images via AFP

The Round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco is underway at the Houston stadium in Houston, on July 4, 2026.

Also read | FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Records, upsets and other defining moments

Co-hosts Canada are taking on Morocco in the first match of the Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026. 

The FIFA World Cup began on June 10 and ends with the final on July 20. Of the record 9 African teams to progress into the Round of 32, only 2 remain. Morocco finished in 4th place in last year’s edition and would look to finish better this year.

Also read | FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout schedule: Matches in Indian Time

All three host nations have progressed into the Round of 16 and Canada would not like to be the first among them to be eliminated. This is only the third time that Canada have qualified for the FIFA World Cup and they would look to go deeper than ever before.

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Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero, ‌Facundo Medina, Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messi (captain), Thiago Almada, Lautaro ⁠Martinez.

Cape Verde: Vozinha, Diney Borges, Pico ⁠Lopes, Sidny Lopes Cabral, Steven Moreira, Kevin Pina, Jovane ‌Cabral, Deroy Duarte, Laros Duarte, Ryan Mendes (captain), Nuno da Costa.

Three games in at the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde is unbeaten, through to the knockouts, and nobody is quite sure what to expect from the African nation.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, ‌Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto.

Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip ⁠Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Josip Sutalo, ⁠Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Nikola Vlasic, Martin Baturina, ‌Petar Sucic, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic. 

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Spain: Unai Simon; Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, ‌Marc Cucurella; Rodri, Dani Olmo, Pedri; Alex Baena, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal.

Austria: Alexander ⁠Schlager; Stefan Posch, David Alaba, ⁠Kevin Danso; Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald, Marcel Sabitzer, ‌Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Paul Wanner; Michael Gregoritsch.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

Belgium: Thibaut Courtois; Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper; Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans, Hans ‌Vanaken; Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere.

Senegal: Mory Diaw, Krepin Diatta, Moussa ⁠Niakhate, Pathe Ciss, Ismail Jakobs, ⁠Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Habib Diarra, ‌Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Sadio Mane.

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

France: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien ‌Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe (captain).

Sweden: Jacob Widell Zetterstrom; ⁠Gustaf Lagerbielke, Victor Lindelof (captain), Gabriel ⁠Gudmundsson; Daniel Svensson, Lucas Bergvall, Yasin Ayari, Elliot ‌Stroud; Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak.

Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso (11) celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Jordan and Argentina in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Saturday, June 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
AP

The Group J match between Jordan and Argentina is underway at the Dallas stadium in Arlington, on June 28, 2026.

Argentina have rested Lionel Messi, who is now the leading goalscorer in World Cup history, after they have been assured of a place in the knockouts. A cameo from the bench is a very real possibility as Messi would look to improve his goal tally before he hangs his boots. This is a must-win match for Jordan if they are to have any hopes of qualifying for the knockouts.

The FIFA World Cup began on June 10 and ends with the final on July 20.

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People wave Cape Verde flags on a street ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup football match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, in Praia, Cape Verde, on June 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters

Cape Verde’s storybook ride now has a chance of reaching the knockout stage, depending largely on how its group stage finale against Saudi Arabia goes. 

Cape Verde is one of the absolute feel-good stories of the World Cup, a tiny island nation with two draws in its two matches to this point.

A showdown with the Saudis awaits Friday in Houston and it’s possible that, if Cape Verde advances, it could be back in Miami Gardens for a round-of-32 game — potentially against Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina.

(With inputs from agencies)

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