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World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Cape Verde Stuns Argentina, England-Mexico Set for Epic Clash
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering everything we love about knockout football โ drama, upsets, and late-night heroics. Hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the Round of 32 is already writing unforgettable stories. Here’s what went down today and what’s coming next.
๐จ๐ป Cape Verde 1โ1 Argentina (Live)
The reigning World Champions Argentina are being pushed to the absolute limit by Cape Verde โ a tiny island nation ranked among the tournament’s biggest underdogs.
After Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a clinical finish to put Argentina ahead and claim top spot in the Golden Boot standings, everyone expected the champions to cruise. But Cape Verde had other plans.
Deroy Duarte scored a stunning equalizer in the 59th minute, drilling the ball through Lisandro Martรญnez’s legs and past Emiliano Martรญnez to level the match. The small pocket of Cape Verde fans erupted in tears of joy.
> *”The fairytale continues!”* โ BBC pundit James McFadden
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been nothing short of sensational, making multiple crucial saves โ including a breathtaking stop to deny Messi from point-blank range and a brilliant free-kick save.
The winner of this match will face Egypt in the Round of 16.
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ England vs Mexico โ Sunday Night Showdown in Mexico City
All eyes are on the blockbuster last-16 clash between England and Mexico, set to kick off at 18:00 local time on Sunday, July 5 (01:00 BST Monday) at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca.
FIFA briefly considered moving the match forward due to forecasted thunderstorms but performed a dramatic U-turn after strong opposition from both the English and Mexican football associations. The game stays at its original time.
For US viewers: The match kicks off at 6:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM ET on Sunday.
England topped Group L with a perfect record (3 wins), while Mexico finished as Group A winners with 7 points. Both sides are undefeated so far in the tournament.
The BBC has launched a special “Stay Up or Catch Up” campaign for the match โ offering live coverage on BBC One at 1:00 AM BST, plus a full spoiler-free replay on BBC Two at 7:10 AM BST for those who can’t stay awake.
๐๏ธ Other Key Round of 32 Matches This Weekend
| Match | Date | Time (Local) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| Colombia vs Ghana | Sat, Jul 4 | TBD | TBD |
| Argentina vs Cape Verde | Fri, Jul 3 | Live Now | Miami Stadium |
| Various Round of 32 | Sat-Sun | Various | Across USA/Mexico/Canada |
| England vs Mexico | Sun, Jul 5 | 18:00 CT | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
โ FAQ
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a joint-hosted tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico โ the first time three nations have co-hosted the event. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19.
How does the new format work?
For the first time, the World Cup features 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams advance to a 32-team knockout stage. This replaces the traditional 16-team knockout round.
Who is the favorite to win?
Argentina entered as defending champions with Lionel Messi leading the Golden Boot race. Other strong contenders include France, Brazil, England, and host nation USA. But with Cape Verde pushing Argentina to the brink, this tournament has “upset special” written all over it.
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