Overview
- Canada reached the World Cup last 16 after captain Stephen Eustáquio scored a 92nd‑minute winner to beat South Africa 1-0 in the opening last‑32 match on Sunday, and the Canadians will meet the winner of Netherlands v Morocco in Houston.
- The 2026 tournament’s extra last‑32 round has increased fixtures and travel for teams, forcing managers to rotate players more and heightening the value of late goals and narrow margins in knockout ties.
- Egypt’s Mohamed Salah has been diagnosed with a hamstring strain by team scans and is doubt for Egypt’s last‑32 match, forcing his staff to manage treatment and selection for the upcoming knockout game.
- France coach Didier Deschamps missed a group game after his mother’s death and is expected to rejoin the squad soon, while FIFA declined the French federation’s request for an additional tribute, a decision that has drawn scrutiny.
- South Korea’s coach Hong Myung‑bo resigned following the team’s group‑stage exit and public criticism from the president, and several matches across the group stage featured late drama such as Algeria’s stoppage‑time goals that decided qualification.