By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Argentina, Egypt, and Colombia secured the final three places in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, emerging victorious in dramatic Round of 32 encounters that brought the tournament’s opening knockout phase to an exciting conclusion.
The trio joined Canada, Paraguay, Brazil, Norway, Mexico, England, Portugal, Spain, the United States, Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco and France in the last 16, where the race for football’s biggest prize is expected to intensify.
The day’s most dramatic contest saw Egypt edge Australia 4-2 in a penalty shootout after both sides battled to a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time. The fiercely contested encounter produced end-to-end action, with neither side able to find a decisive winner before the Pharaohs kept their composure from the penalty spot to seal qualification.
Egypt’s victory ensured the North Africans remained on course for one of their best-ever FIFA World Cup campaigns, setting up an intriguing Round of 16 showdown against South American giants Argentina.
Argentina also had to work hard for their place in the next round, overcoming a spirited Cape Verde side 3-2 in an entertaining five-goal thriller. The two-time world champions demonstrated their quality and experience when it mattered most, eventually pulling away from the tournament debutants, whose impressive performance earned admiration despite the defeat.
The victory kept Argentina’s dream of adding another World Cup title alive while ending Cape Verde’s memorable maiden appearance in the expanded 48-team tournament.
In the final match of the Round of 32, Colombia produced a disciplined display to secure a narrow 1-0 victory over Ghana. A resolute defensive performance and a clinical finish proved enough for the South Americans to eliminate the Black Stars and book a place in the Round of 16.
Colombia’s triumph completed the knockout bracket and earned them a mouth-watering last-16 clash against Switzerland, promising another highly competitive encounter.
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With the Round of 32 now concluded, attention shifts to the Round of 16, where the remaining 16 nations will battle for places in the quarter-finals. Several heavyweight clashes are already on the schedule, including France vs Paraguay, Brazil vs Norway, Mexico vs England, Portugal vs Spain, the United States vs Belgium, Argentina vs Egypt, and Switzerland vs Colombia.
The Merit Newspaper acknowledges that the conclusion of the opening knockout round has underlined the competitiveness of the expanded FIFA World Cup, with penalty shootouts, narrow victories and dramatic finishes highlighting the fine margins separating the world’s best football nations.
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As the tournament enters its decisive stages, expectations continue to rise for more memorable moments, while the remaining contenders pursue the ultimate prize in world football.
