Day 22 of di 2026 FIFA World Cup don bring three more Round of 32 matches wey go shake ground. Spain go face Austria, Portugal go tussle wit Croatia, and Switzerland go lock horns wit Algeria for night. All di matches dey on FOX and FS1, and you fit stream dem live on FOX One.
Spain don enter di knockout rounds witout losing any match. Dem top Group H wit two wins and one draw, and dem no even allow any goal for three matches. Austria come out as runner-up for Group J behind Argentina, after dem draw 3-3 wit Algeria for di group finale. Spain defense dey strong, but Austria don show say dem no go back down witout fight.
For Spain, Álex Baena of Atlético Madrid don sharp well for di last two games. He win Man of di Match after scoring for di 1-0 win over Uruguay. Against Austria wey like to press, Baena go get chance to exploit space if he fit hold ball under pressure. He dey play well and go be key for Spain attack.
Portugal finish Group K unbeaten wit one win and two draws, dem land as runner-up behind group winner Colombia. Cristiano Ronaldo don score two goals for di tournament and go want add more against Croatia. Croatia survive 4-2 loss to England before dem win back-to-back against Panama and Ghana. Croatia wey dey ready to trade goals go make dis match one of di most entertaining.
Bruno Fernandes dey important for Portugal midfield. He be di engine of di team, very direct and full energy. He no go want let Croatia slow down di game and make am choppy. Portugal struggle against Colombia for group stage finale, but Fernandes dey at di heart of dia best moments.
Switzerland top Group B wit two wins and one draw, dem outscore opponents seven to three. Algeria lose 3-0 to Argentina but rally to beat Jordan and draw Austria 3-3, dem sneak into knockout rounds as one of di best third-place finishers. Swiss dey favored, but Algeria don prove say dem fit score plenty.
Johan Manzambi, Switzerland 20-year-old midfielder, don be one of di top young players for dis tournament. He get three goals and one assist for group stage. For di 2-1 win over Canada, di Geneva-born Manzambi be arguably di best player on di field wit goal and assist. He don get great year for SC Freiburg for Bundesliga, and dem name am Europa League Young Player of di Season for 2025-26. He excel at making late runs into di box and go be key for Switzerland victory.
Di penultimate day of last-32 action dey promise to be compelling, wit two pre-tournament favourites for action. Whether Portugal and Spain still dey among frontrunners to lift di trophy on 19 July go depend on wetin unfold on Thursday. Spain face Austria for Los Angeles wit point to prove. While di European champions make comfortable progress through group stage, dem never find top gear. Di intensity wey dem show for Euro 2024 dey missing, wit Lamine Yamal still searching for sharpness.
Portugal don dey weighed down by di presence of 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contribution never match im reputation. After underwhelming draws against Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, Roberto Martínez side no fit take anything for granted against Croatia.
Spain wey stroll to Euro 2024 glory two years ago never be di same team. Dia press no dey as intense, dia possession play no dey as slick. Dem dey seen as favourites to win second World Cup before ball even kick, but dem never demonstrate di attacking threat of some rivals for dia three outings. Austria leave am very late to secure place for last 32, dem net equaliser for sixth minute of stoppage time against Algeria to set up clash wit Spain. Ralf Rangnick side go attempt to press di European champions and play dem at dia own high-energy, high-risk game. Dat go make for entertaining encounter.
Lamine Yamal dey di player to watch for Spain. While di Barcelona winger still dey search for sharpness after injury layoff, he remain di difference-maker wey dictate everything for Spain for di final third. Dem need am for top form.
Portugal get two draws from three games, no be di start dem want. Instead of favourable last-32 tie against Ghana, Ronaldo and company now get to find way past Croatia, and no guarantee say dem go fit do dat based on lackluster performance so far. Croatia similarly never dey at dia best for three matches dem play, but di experience of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovačić, not to mention elite-level quality of Joško Gvardiol and Josip Stanišić, make dem dangerous opponents. Croatia usually find way to win for tournaments. Player to watch be Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal. Di story of dis match fit tell through Ronaldo and whether he fit provide di firepower Portugal need. If di 41-year-old dey struggle, go Martínez get nerve to replace am?
Switzerland don fly under di radar for World Cup so far despite dem finish top of Group B. Dia 2-1 win over co-hosts Canada, not to mention di 4-1 demolition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, highlight di balance Murat Yakin don instill for team wey fit make deep run for dis tournament. Algeria performances don be uneven over dia three matches. Ibrahim Maza don be standout performer through middle of di pitch, while former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez remain capable of match-winning moment even if he struggle for im best form. Player to watch be Johan Manzambi, Switzerland. Di World Cup change for di Swiss when Manzambi come off di bench for di game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since den, di Freiburg youngster don electrify di rest of di team around am. He be must-watch talent.
