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The 2026 World Cup's round of 16 began on Saturday (July 4) with Morocco and France securing victories to advance to the quarterfinals. Morocco triumphed over Canada with a decisive 3-0 win in Houston, while France edged past Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia thanks to a penalty by Kylian Mbappe in the 70th minute.
Morocco's victory marked their first quarterfinal appearance in this tournament, continuing their unbeaten streak in normal time over 33 matches. Despite Canada's early pressure, Morocco's defense held strong, and they capitalized on their opportunities to secure the win. Ismael Saibari, a standout player for Morocco, was substituted early due to injury but has been a key player throughout the tournament.
In Philadelphia, France faced a tough challenge from Paraguay but managed to break the deadlock with Mbappe's penalty, securing their place in the quarterfinals. France has been dominant in this World Cup, winning all four of their matches and scoring a tournament-high 13 goals. Mbappe's performance keeps him in the race for the Golden Boot, trailing only Lionel Messi.
The round of 16 continues on Sunday (July 5) with Brazil facing Norway and Mexico taking on England. The winners will join Morocco and France in the quarterfinals, set to take place on Thursday (July 9).