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# World Cup 2026 Knockout Round Delivers Drama: Argentina Survive, Egypt Win Shootout, Spain Dominate
The 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage is in full swing, and the Round of 32 has already delivered unforgettable moments. From defending champions Argentina needing extra time to edge past debutants Cape Verde to Mohamed Salah’s ice-cold Panenka penalty, here’s everything you need to know about the latest action.
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## Match Results — Round of 32
| Match | Score | Venue | Key Moment |
|——-|——-|——-|————|
| **Argentina vs Cape Verde** | 3-2 (AET) | Miami Stadium | Diney Borges own goal (111′) saves Argentina |
| **Egypt vs Australia** | 1-1 (4-2 pens) | Dallas Stadium | Salah Panenka penalty seals historic win |
| **Spain vs Austria** | 3-0 | Los Angeles Stadium | Oyarzabal scores twice, Cucurella bags 2 assists |
| **Portugal vs Croatia** | 2-1 | Toronto Stadium | Ramos 94′ winner, Ronaldo scores penalty |
| **Switzerland vs Algeria** | 2-0 | Vancouver Stadium | First Swiss knockout win since 1938 |
| **Colombia vs Ghana** | Live (1-0) | Houston Stadium | Arias gives Colombia lead at half |
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## Key Highlights
### 🇦🇷 Argentina 3-2 Cape Verde — Champions Survive a Scare
The defending champions were pushed to the limit by the smallest nation to ever play a World Cup knockout match. Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 29th minute with his **20th World Cup goal** — a sublime chest control and finish. But Cape Verde fought back twice:
– **Deroy Duarte** equalized in the second half with a tight-angle finish
– **Lisandro Martinez** thought he’d won it in the 92nd minute of extra time
– **Sidny Lopes Cabral** produced an absolute world-class curling strike to make it 2-2 in the 103rd minute
– A cruel **own goal by Diney Borges** (111′) finally broke Cape Verde hearts
### 🇪🇬 Egypt 1-1 Australia (4-2 Pens) — Salah Makes History
**Mohamed Salah** delivered when it mattered most. After a tense 1-1 draw — Egypt took the lead through Emam Ashour, Australia equalized via a Mohamed Hany own goal — the game went to penalties. Salah calmly slotted a **Panenka** before Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the decisive spot-kick.
Egypt reached the last 16 for the first time since 1934, and joined Morocco as the **first two African nations to win knockout matches at a single World Cup**.
### 🇪🇸 Spain 3-0 Austria — La Roja Back in Business
Spain won a World Cup knockout match for the first time since the 2010 final. **Mikel Oyarzabal** scored twice (taking his tournament tally to four), and Pedro Porro added a header. Marc Cucurella provided two assists as Spain kept their **fourth consecutive clean sheet**. They’ll face Portugal in the last 16.
### 🇵🇹 Portugal 2-1 Croatia — Ronaldo Scores, Ramos Wins It
In a chaotic finish, **Cristiano Ronaldo** scored his first-ever World Cup knockout goal from the penalty spot. After Croatia’s Ivan Perisic had equalized, **Goncalo Ramos** rose highest in the 94th minute to head home a Rafael Leao cross. A late Croatia goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. Portugal now faces Spain in a massive Iberian derby.
### 🇨🇭 Switzerland 2-0 Algeria — History for the Swiss
**Breel Embolo** and **Dan Ndoye** scored as Switzerland secured their first World Cup knockout win since 1938. They’ll face either Colombia or Ghana in the last 16.
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## Kickoff Chaos: England vs Mexico Drama
In a bizarre turn of events, FIFA briefly attempted to move England’s last-16 clash against co-hosts Mexico forward by six hours due to thunderstorm forecasts. Both the English and Mexican football associations pushed back, leading to a **FIFA U-turn** — the match stays at its original kickoff time: **6 PM local time (01:00 BST) on Monday** at the legendary Azteca Stadium.
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## Looking Ahead — Confirmed Last 16 Fixtures
| Match | Date | Venue |
|——-|——|——-|
| **Egypt vs Argentina** | TBD | Atlanta Stadium |
| **Portugal vs Spain** | Monday, July 6 | Dallas Stadium |
| **Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana** | Tuesday, July 7 | BC Place Vancouver |
| **England vs Mexico** | Monday, July 6 (01:00 BST) | Azteca, Mexico City |
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## FAQ
**Q: Who is the top scorer of World Cup 2026 so far?**
A: The Golden Boot race is heating up — Kylian Mbappe is currently tied with Lionel Messi on 6 goals, with Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal close behind on 4.
**Q: Has Cape Verde’s performance been the biggest surprise?**
A: Absolutely. Cape Verde (ranked 64th) became the smallest nation to ever reach a World Cup knockout round and pushed Argentina, the world’s No. 2 team, to the brink. Their fearless style won them fans worldwide.
**Q: When is the England vs Mexico match?**
A: The match kicks off at 6:00 PM local time (01:00 BST) on Monday, July 6 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. It was originally at risk of being rescheduled due to weather concerns, but FIFA confirmed it will go ahead as planned.
**Q: Are there more World Cup matches today?**
A: Yes! Colombia vs Ghana is currently underway, and more last-32 ties will be played over the coming days before the Round of 16 begins.
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The World Cup 2026 knockout stage is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in history. With underdogs shining, legends delivering, and European powerhouses set to collide, the next week promises even more drama.
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