By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
The 2026 FIFA World Cup produced another dramatic day of knockout football on Monday as Brazil, Paraguay and Morocco secured places in the Round of 16, while former champions Germany and European powerhouse the Netherlands suffered stunning exits.
Brazil maintained their quest for a record-extending sixth World Cup title with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Japan in a fiercely contested Round of 32 encounter. The South Americans showed their experience and composure under pressure to edge past a determined Japanese side and become one of the latest teams to book a place in the last 16.
The biggest shock of the day came when Paraguay knocked out four-time world champions Germany after a tense 1-1 draw ended in a dramatic penalty shootout. Paraguay held their nerve to claim a 4-3 victory on penalties, sending the German side crashing out of the tournament and recording one of the competition’s most memorable upsets.
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Morocco also continued their impressive World Cup journey by eliminating the Netherlands following another thrilling contest. After both sides finished 1-1 in regulation and extra time, the North Africans prevailed 3-2 in the penalty shootout to spark jubilant celebrations among their players and supporters.
The Merit Newspaper acknowledges that the latest results highlighted the unpredictable nature of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, where every knockout fixture has become a winner-takes-all battle and even football’s traditional giants are no longer guaranteed progress.
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With Brazil advancing alongside surprise packages Paraguay and Morocco, the race for the world title has become even more intriguing as the Round of 16 continues, with the remaining Round of 32 fixtures set to determine the rest of the teams that will compete for a place in the quarter-finals.
