Di last 32 of di 2026 World Cup continue today with three tantalising ties. Co-hosts Mexico, tournament frontrunners France and dark horses Norway dey take to di field once more. All three games promise plenty drama and excitement.
Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé go be two of di headline acts for Tuesday matches. Both players don hit di ground running, netting eight goals between dem with more matches to come.
Mexico fit make di last 16 for di eighth time in di last nine World Cups. Ecuador dey aim to reach dat stage for only di second time for dia history, never winning a World Cup knockout game before.
Côte d’Ivoire don already make history by reaching di knockout rounds of a World Cup for di first time. Dere good reason to believe dem fit go even further. Di Elephants get formidable forward line and don score for all three matches dem play so far.
Stale Solbakken rest im best players for Norway final group game against France. Dat mean Haaland, Martin Odegaard and di rest suppose be fresh for Tuesday last 32 tie. Di Scandinavians don so far live up to dia billing as dark horses and dey among di tournament most fearsome teams for quick transition.
Player to watch: Yan Diomande, Côte d'Ivoire. Di 19-year-old don be one of di breakout stars of di 2026 World Cup, becoming di only player dis century to register 10+ chances created and 10+ dribbles for three World Cup matches.
France don set di standard at di 2026 World Cup so far, winning three out of three and scoring 10 goals for di process. Dia forward line of Mbappé, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise fit be di most dangerous for di whole tournament. But fit Didier Deschamps find di right midfield balance to prevent Les Bleus from being top-heavy?
Speaking of top-heavy, Sweden boast two elite-level forwards for Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, but dey comparatively lacking for oda areas. Isak fit get to play on di left wing to give Graham Potter side a semblance of structure against one of di tournament favourites.
Player to watch: Kylian Mbappé, France. Di Real Madrid forward don register two goal contributions for each of im three appearances so far. He be di player around whom France revolve. Everything dey geared towards Mbappe for di final third.
Mexico be one of just three teams to get 100% record after three games of dis World Cup. El Tri look to don peak at di right time and go get home advantage for front of dia own supporters for di Estadio Azteca. Dat fit be a difference-maker for Javier Aguirre team.
Ecuador leave am late to seal dia place for di round of 32, coming from behind to beat Germany for dia final group game. If dem fit maintain dia attacking threat against Mexico, di defensive strength of Sebastian Beccacece team fit determine di outcome of Tuesday encounter.
Player to watch: Moises Caicedo, Ecuador. Di Chelsea midfielder be one of di best two-way operators for di world and go be an important valve for di centre of di field for di visiting team to Estadio Azteca. Ecuador need am for top form.
Day 20 of di 2026 FIFA World Cup bring a loaded Round of 32 slate on Tuesday, June 30. Di matches dey headlined by Kylian Mbappé unbeaten France taking on Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium. Erling Haaland look to power Norway past di Ivory Coast for Dallas. Den host nation Mexico, perfect through three group games, go square off against a red-hot Ecuador side for a prime-time showdown at Mexico City Stadium.
Midfielder for Norway: Understandably, Haaland receive di most attention whenever talking about di Norwegian national team. But RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa be one of Norway most important players because he be one of di main scoring creators for Haaland. Nusa go be key for dis game for making runs up di left side to get on di end of passes, typically from Martin Ødegaard or Sander Berge. If Nusa effective with im crosses or passes, Haaland go be close to unstoppable.
Forward for France: As di reigning Ballon d’Or winner, Ousmane Dembélé be a special player, but he no score im first World Cup goal until dis tournament. Wit dat goal for di second game against Iraq, di floodgates open, as Dembélé den score a hat trick for di win over Norway for di group stage finale. Against a leaky Swedish defense, Dembélé fit get a field day for dis game.
Forward for Mexico: Di Colombian-born attacker become a naturalized Mexican citizen for 2023 and don since become a very important player for El Tri. He be di Man of di Match for di opening win over South Africa and score again for di win over Czechia. Now, he go be tasked wit trying to find goals against a very good Ecuadorian defense. He don dey for good form for most of di past year, and he recently finish as di top scorer for di Saudi Pro League for 2025-26 wit 33 goals for Al Qadsiah FC.
