Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Images)
Derrick Luckassen #23 of Ghana reacts after the 0-1 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas City Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(David Ramos, Getty Images)
Vozinha #1 and Kevin Pina #6 of Cabo Verde react after the 2-3 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde, on July 3, 2026 in Miami.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic looks dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eliminated from theWorld Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic looks dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eliminated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Pathe Ciss #6 of Senegal is consoled by Amadou Onana #24 of Belgium after theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Seattle.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Players of England celebrate the team's 2-1 victory while Fiston Mayele #19 of Congo DR shows dejection after the FIFAWorld Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
Cedric Bakambu #17 of Congo DR reacts after the team's 1-2 defeat in theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Megan Briggs, Getty Images)
Sweden's defender Gustaf Lagerbielke reacts after losing the2026 World Cupround of 32 football match between France and Sweden at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 30, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)
Viktor Gyokeres #17 of Sweden and teammates applaud fans after the 0-3 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Buda Mendes, Getty Images)
Amad Diallo #15 of Cote d'Ivoire reacts after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32match between Cote d'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
Patrick Berg #6 of Norway celebrates after the 2-1 win as Yahia Fofana #1 of Cote d'Ivoire reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote d'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
(From L) Netherlands' defender #02 Lutsharel Geertruida, midfielder #26 Quinten Timber and midfielder #14 Tijjani Reijnders react after losing in the shootout during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between the Netherlands and Morocco at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026.
(CARL DE SOUZA, AFP via Getty Images)
Germany's forward #07 Kai Havertz reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the2026 World Cupround of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
Germany's defender #05 Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender #18 Nathaniel Brown react after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
Germany's midfielder #20 Nadiem Amiri reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)
A Germany fan reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
Kai Havertz #7 of Germany reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
A Japan fan reacts after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
Daizen Maeda #11, Shuto Machino #6 and Yuto Nagatomo #5 of Japan react after the 1-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
South Africa's forward #07 Oswin Appollis reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.
(ETIENNE LAURENT, AFP via Getty Images)
Ronwen Williams #1 and Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa look dejected after the team's defeat and their side's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa looks dejected after the team's defeat and his side's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
1/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Images)
1/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Images)
2/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Derrick Luckassen #23 of Ghana reacts after the 0-1 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas City Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
(David Ramos, Getty Images)
3/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Vozinha #1 and Kevin Pina #6 of Cabo Verde react after the 2-3 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde, on July 3, 2026 in Miami.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
4/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic looks dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eliminated from theWorld Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
5/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Kerim Alajbegovic looks dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eliminated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
6/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Pathe Ciss #6 of Senegal is consoled by Amadou Onana #24 of Belgium after theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Seattle.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
7/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Players of England celebrate the team's 2-1 victory while Fiston Mayele #19 of Congo DR shows dejection after the FIFAWorld Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
8/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Cedric Bakambu #17 of Congo DR reacts after the team's 1-2 defeat in theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Megan Briggs, Getty Images)
9/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Sweden's defender Gustaf Lagerbielke reacts after losing the2026 World Cupround of 32 football match between France and Sweden at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 30, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)
10/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Viktor Gyokeres #17 of Sweden and teammates applaud fans after the 0-3 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Buda Mendes, Getty Images)
11/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Amad Diallo #15 of Cote d'Ivoire reacts after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32match between Cote d'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
12/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Patrick Berg #6 of Norway celebrates after the 2-1 win as Yahia Fofana #1 of Cote d'Ivoire reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Cote d'Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
13/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
(From L) Netherlands' defender #02 Lutsharel Geertruida, midfielder #26 Quinten Timber and midfielder #14 Tijjani Reijnders react after losing in the shootout during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between the Netherlands and Morocco at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026.
(CARL DE SOUZA, AFP via Getty Images)
14/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Germany's forward #07 Kai Havertz reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the2026 World Cupround of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP via Getty Images)
15/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Germany's defender #05 Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender #18 Nathaniel Brown react after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP via Getty Images)
16/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Germany's midfielder #20 Nadiem Amiri reacts after losing the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Germany and Paraguay at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP via Getty Images)
17/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
A Germany fan reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)
18/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Kai Havertz #7 of Germany reacts after the penalty shootout loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
19/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
A Japan fan reacts after the 1-2 loss during theFIFA World Cup 2026Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
20/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Daizen Maeda #11, Shuto Machino #6 and Yuto Nagatomo #5 of Japan react after the 1-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
21/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
South Africa's forward #07 Oswin Appollis reacts after losing the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between South Africa and Canada at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.
(ETIENNE LAURENT, AFP via Getty Images)
22/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Ronwen Williams #1 and Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa look dejected after the team's defeat and their side's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
23/23
Agony of defeat as World Cup ends for these teams
Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa looks dejected after the team's defeat and his side's elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)
Some of the top teams in the tournament will play in their first knockout games of the summer on Friday, July 3, including two venerated South American sides taking on two fan-favorite African teams.Defending champions ArgentinaandLionel Messitake on sweetheartCape VerdewhileColombiafacesGhana.
Here is USA TODAY Sports' ranking of the 22 teams left in the World Cup as of Thursday, July 2.
While the empty-net miss late againstSaudi Arabiamay prove to be the difference between leaving their first World Cup with a win, few will mind as the Blue Sharks found a way to keep rolling and make the knockout stage. It's one of the tournament's best stories.
When Ghana doesn't stick firmly to Carlos Queiroz's principles of disciplined, low-event soccer, it does not look like it can hang. The crafty manager will make sure everyone is in line for the knockout match(es?).
Austriadrew withAlgeriain one of the most shocking ends to a game in the history of international soccer. Everything seemed like the teams were playing out a draw. Suddenly, Algeria scored. But Austria made changes and answered seconds later. Everyone goes through happy - but Austria now has to playSpain.
What a game. What an ending. What a joy it will be for Algeria fans seeingRiyad Mahrezscore twice AND seeing their team avoid Spain in the round of 32 with the late goal conceded.
The group win was there for the taking, butEgyptwas content to see out a draw withIran. It nearly got burned by the fire it was playing with – though a matchup withAustraliais better than it could've gone as second-place finishers.
It's a nice hop for the Socceroos after they once again controlled a game - though this time not being able to find the back of the net. Tony Popovic will have a well-designed plan for the knockouts, too.
It's a successful World Cup already forCanada, which got pastSouth Africafor its first-ever knockout win. Now a much bigger challenge awaits in the form ofMoroccoin the round of 16.
Things may be opening up forLuka ModrićandCroatia, which played an OK game against Ghana but stylistically was able to do what it wanted in a 2-1 win. Now, it's another team that might not be able to punish Croatia's advanced age and lack of speed as the Blazers meetPortugalin the round of 32.
Consistent, but yet to be tested (unless you countQatarin the last five minutes),Switzerlandis doing what it has tended to do in major tournaments: Advance but fly under the radar.Johan Manzambicould feast against Algeria.
While Colombia couldn't find the goal to truly set off the party against Portugal in Miami, winning the group means the path is there for a team that may once again be coming together for a long knockout run.
They had fans holding their breath until the very end in the round of 32 comeback win overSenegal, but withJérémy Dokuback in the fold and veteran attackers likeRomelu Lukakugetting in on the goals, the Red Devils are still a force to be reckoned with.
In failing to beat Colombia and finishing runner-up in the group, Roberto Martínez's team has made its life much more difficult as the tournament progresses, even if the potential quarterfinal withArgentinais off the table.
The momentum is sky-high after a 2-0 round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.Folarin Balogunnetted another goal in the victory, but was handed a red card and will not play in the round of 16. At leastChristian Pulisicseems to be fully healthy after his calf injury.
Javier Aguirre's men are clicking into gear at exactly the right time - and will stay at home inMexicoCity after beating Ecuador in the round of 32. Next up:England.
Spain notched a second consecutive win, but it didn't look like the team we had No. 1 in our pre-tournament rankings as it grit its teeth for a 1-0 victory overUruguay. LosingNico Williamsto another injury only means more for Spain to figure out between phases.
England has fans scratching their heads with their slow starts. After conceding a goal to Congo in the round of 32,Harry Kanewas the hero yet again and scored twice for his second brace of the tournament. Facing Mexico on their turf will be a true test.
It's tough to find many flaws with France at the moment.Les Bleusmade easy work ofSwedenasKylian Mbappéscored his third brace in four games this tournament.
