Five of seven first-leg ties ended level in the Copa do Brasil Round of 16, but Internacional beat Corinthians 2-0 and Palmeiras built a comfortable lead over Fortaleza to seize the initiative.
After the Round of 16, Lionel Messi leads the scoring charts and rating race while France, England, and Belgium supply the tournament's most influential creators. Here is who has separated themselves before the quarterfinals.
Knockout football turned up the volume across the World Cup Round of 16. Lionel Messi takes Player of the Round honors in a 4-3-3 Team of the Week built on cold-blooded finishes, Swiss shot-stopping, and Moroccan horsepower.
Gregor Kobel produced a commanding 120-minute display and a decisive penalty save as Switzerland eliminated Colombia 4-3 on spot kicks after a 0-0 draw in Vancouver.
Argentina overturned a 0-2 deficit with three goals in the final 11 minutes of regulation and stoppage time, beating Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta as Lionel Messi scored and assisted and Enzo Fernández struck the winner.
Argentina trailed Egypt 1-0 at the break in Atlanta despite dominating possession and chances, a snapshot that captures a broader Round of 16 trend: organized lower-ranked nations are turning early efficiency into real knockout-stage leverage.
Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah lead Argentina and Egypt into a World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash. We break down their tournament records, national-team impact, and the form lines that could decide the tie.
World No. 19 Switzerland and No. 13 Colombia bring contrasting but equally effective profiles into a Round of 16 showdown at BC Place in Vancouver, where early momentum, defensive discipline, and set-piece quality could decide everything.
The 2026 World Cup Round of 16 closes with Argentina facing Egypt and Switzerland meeting Colombia. Defending champions Argentina carry Cape Verde scars; Salah leads Egypt; two organised underdogs collide later.
The United States crashed out of the World Cup Round of 16 with a 1-4 loss to Belgium at Lumen Field, becoming the first team since detailed records began in 1966 to concede three goal-leading errors in a single knockout match.
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