Fifa 2026: Round of 16 concluded yesterday - 8 matches remaining

With all the thrilling Round of 16 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup concluding yesterday (July 7), today has been set aside as a rest and preparation day for the teams. With no matches scheduled for today, all teams are focusing on their physical fitness and strategizing for the crucial quarter-final matches, which begin tomorrow (July 9).

The two Round of 16 matches played yesterday were highly controversial and exciting. In the match against Egypt at the Atlanta Stadium, Argentina, trailing 2-0, managed to win the game 3-2 with goals from Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi, and Enzo Fernández. Messi, at 39 years old, missed a penalty but scored one goal and assisted another, earning him the man of the match award. The match was heavily discussed due to referee decisions and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions. Meanwhile, in the other match held in Vancouver, Switzerland recorded a 4-3 victory in a penalty shootout after their game against Colombia ended in a goalless draw.

In previous matches, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0, Belgium beat USA 4-1, England overcame Mexico 3-2, and Norway defeated Brazil 2-1. Additionally, Morocco advanced by defeating Canada, and France advanced by defeating Paraguay. Notably, all three host nations of this tournament – USA, Canada, and Mexico – have now been eliminated. The fact that six out of the eight teams that qualified for this year's quarter-finals are European teams clearly reflects the football power of the European region, while Morocco's performance representing the African region stands out. Due to this extended tournament format involving 48 teams, there is significant attention on player fatigue and the physical fitness of veteran players like Messi.

The exciting nature of these crucial matches has succeeded in increasing global audience engagement, and controversies regarding referee decisions are likely to be reviewed by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in the future. For Sri Lankan football fans, seeing teams like Morocco achieve surprising victories and the playing style of superstars like Messi provides a great stimulus to generate interest in local football.

In the quarter-finals, which begin tomorrow (July 9), France and Morocco are scheduled to play in Boston. These matches, which will take place during the night in Sri Lankan time, will see a strong midfield battle between Spain and Belgium in Los Angeles on July 10. On July 11, Norway and England will play in Miami, and Argentina and Switzerland will compete in Kansas City.

The semi-finals, where every match is a must-win, will be held on July 14 and 15 in Dallas and Atlanta, respectively. The third-place match will take place on July 18 in Miami. All arrangements have been made for the World Cup final to be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York. While experienced teams like France, Argentina, England, and Spain have an advantage, any upset is possible given the conditions of the North American stadiums and potential player injuries.