By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
France, Norway and Mexico secured their places in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday after recording convincing victories in the knockout stage, ending the hopes of Sweden, Ivory Coast and Ecuador respectively.
Former world champions France produced one of the most dominant performances of the Round of 32, defeating Sweden 3-0 to underline their title credentials. The French controlled possession for long periods, created numerous scoring opportunities and defended resolutely to seal a comfortable passage into the next round.
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Norway continued their impressive World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in a fiercely contested encounter. The Norwegians displayed composure and discipline to withstand sustained pressure from the African side before sealing a memorable qualification to the Round of 16.
Co-hosts Mexico also delighted their home supporters with a clinical 2-0 victory over Ecuador. The hosts combined attacking flair with defensive solidity to book their place among the tournament’s last 16 teams, keeping alive hopes of a deep run on home soil.
The three victories completed another dramatic day in the first knockout round, where every match is a winner-takes-all contest and defeat brings an immediate end to a nation’s World Cup dream.
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France’s emphatic triumph further strengthened its reputation as one of the favourites for the title, while Norway’s resilience and Mexico’s disciplined display demonstrated the unpredictable nature of this expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup.
Attention now shifts to the remaining Round of 32 fixtures as other nations battle for the eight remaining places in the Round of 16, with the race for football’s biggest prize becoming increasingly intense.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, has continued to produce thrilling contests, surprise results and outstanding individual performances as the knockout stage gathers momentum.
