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Round of 32 Heats Up in North America
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the knockout phase, and the Round of 32 has already delivered drama, emotion, and history-making moments across North America. Here’s your full recap of the action so far — plus what’s coming next.
Portugal 2-1 Croatia: Late Ramos Winner Sends Portugal Through
| Match | Portugal 2-1 Croatia |
| Goals | Cristiano Ronaldo (68′ pen), Goncalo Ramos (90+4′) — Ivan Perisic (53′) |
| Venue | Dallas Stadium, Texas |
| Attendance | 78,542 |
In what may be the most dramatic match of the tournament so far, Portugal came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 thanks to a 94th-minute header from substitute Goncalo Ramos. The match had everything: a vintage Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, a Croatian fightback, and a VAR controversy that denied Josko Gvardiol a stoppage-time equalizer for offside in the buildup.
Ivan Perisic opened the scoring for Croatia eight minutes into the second half, but Ronaldo leveled from the spot after a VAR check spotted a foul at a corner. Just as extra time beckoned, Rafael Leao delivered a stunning cross and Ramos powered home the winner — sparking wild celebrations among Portugal’s players and staff.
After the match, an emotional Ronaldo pulled on the jersey of late former teammate Diogo Jota and led the team toward their fans — a moment that went viral worldwide.
Portugal will now face Spain in the last 16 on Monday, July 6 at Dallas Stadium.
Switzerland 2-0 Algeria: Historic Knockout Win for the Swiss
| Match | Switzerland 2-0 Algeria |
| Goals | Breel Embolo (10′), Dan Ndoye (46′) |
| Venue | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Attendance | 54,391 |
Switzerland made history by winning their first World Cup knockout match since 1938, comfortably dispatching Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver. Breel Embolo opened the scoring early with a clinical finish from Johan Manzambi’s cutback, and Dan Ndoye doubled the lead just 46 seconds into the second half.
The Swiss defense, anchored by Gregor Kobel in goal, rarely looked troubled. Algeria’s best chance came from Fares Chaibi, but his tame shot was easily saved. Switzerland have now reached the last 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup — a remarkable run of consistency.
They will face the winner of Colombia vs Ghana on July 7 at BC Place Vancouver.
Today’s Matches: Argentina vs Cape Verde & Australia vs Egypt
Argentina vs Cape Verde is the fairytale tie of the round. Cape Verde — the smallest nation ever to reach a men’s World Cup knockout stage (population ~525,000) — takes on defending champions Argentina in Miami. All eyes will be on Lionel Messi, who has already scored 19 World Cup goals (the most in history), and Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who became an internet sensation after shutting out Spain in the group stage with 27 shots faced.
Australia vs Egypt in the other match of the day promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both sides looking to reach the last 16 for the first time in their history.
What’s Next?
The Round of 32 continues with several blockbuster ties on the horizon:
- Portugal vs Spain — Monday, July 6, Dallas Stadium
- Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana — Tuesday, July 7, BC Place Vancouver
- Argentina/Cape Verde winner to face Australia/Egypt winner
The tournament has already set attendance records with over 5.4 million spectators through 85 matches, and the knockout stage is delivering everything fans could hope for.
Looking Ahead
With Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé tied at 6 goals each in the Golden Boot race, the knockout rounds will determine who finishes as the tournament’s top scorer. Messi’s Argentina are favorites to go deep, but with Cape Verde’s dream run and Mbappé’s France lurking on the other side of the bracket, nothing is guaranteed.
Stay tuned for more World Cup 2026 coverage right here on PC Master Deals as we track every result, highlight, and story from the biggest World Cup ever staged.
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