The FIFA World Cup 2026 The round of 16 kicked off with two entertaining play-off matches as the first teams to qualify for the quarter finals were Morocco and France. The Atlas Lions defeated one of the host nations, Canada, 3-0, while Les Bleus beat Paraguay 1-0 in a tense and highly physical encounter.
Morocco defeated Canada with a score of 3:0 and advanced to the 1/4 finals
Morocco They continued their impressive World Cup campaign after qualifying for the quarter-finals with a convincing 3-0 win over Canada on July 4.
Playing against one of the co-hosts of the tournament, the Atlas Lions attacked from the opening whistle. However, it was far from an easy contest as Canada produced an energetic first half and created a number of dangerous opportunities.
Nevertheless, Jesse Marsh’s men could not convert their chances, allowing Morocco to enter the game after the break.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s men finally opened the score with Azzedine Ounahi in the 50th minute. The midfielder doubled Morocco’s lead in the 82nd minute after completing a quick counter-attack to put his side firmly in control.
Finally, Brahim Diaz completed a superb team performance with the third goal to secure a memorable 3-0 win and send the Atlas Lions into the last eight.
France survived a physical Paraguay test
Meanwhile, France Defeated Paraguay 1-0 in one of the most physical matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
As expected, Les Bleus dominated possession from the opening whistle but struggled to break down Paraguay’s disciplined defensive formation.
Instead of pushing players forward, Los Guaraníes focused on frustrating France with a compact defensive formation and an extremely physical approach. Throughout the match, Paraguay made several strong calls that repeatedly disrupted France’s attacking rhythm.
After referee Ilgiz Tantashev allowed several hard calls to go unpunished, refereeing also became the main topic of discussion. Despite Paraguay committing numerous non-footballing problems during the competition, none of their players received a yellow card, a decision that sparked widespread debate among fans and football observers after the final whistle.
Nevertheless, France kept their composure despite the physical battle and difficult weather conditions. Didier Deschamps’ side held firm, finally calmly converting a penalty in the 70th minute when Kylian Mbappe was brought down in the box by Desiree Douyen.
Les Bleus created a few more chances to extend their lead, but one goal was enough to secure victory and a place in the quarter-finals without any serious injuries.
France will now face Morocco in what promises to be one of the eye-catching clashes of the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. With both teams enjoying impressive runs, the encounter is expected to be one of the most exciting encounters of the tournament so far.
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Results (So Far)
| History | Encounter | The result | Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Morocco v. Canada | 3-0 | ⚽ Azzedine Ounahi (50′, 82′), Brahim Diaz (90′) |
| July 4 | France vs Paraguay | 1-0 | ⚽ Kylian Mbappe (70′ pen.) |
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 – 1/4 finals (Confirmed so far)
| History | Encounter | Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2026 | France vs Morocco | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |