We dey live one of di best World Cup for history, as Canada, United States, and Mexico don give us di first three-host World Cup, wit 48 teams, 104 matches, and over one month of football almost every day.
When we tink say including so many teams no go good, Gianni Infantino come surprise us, as teams like Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cabo Verde, wey dem expect little, earn di respect of di world.
We dey di final stages, and di best matches fit still come, but for now, after di match between Mexico and England, here be di top 10 matches of World Cup 2026 according to The Athletic.
Two of di best European teams for recent years face each other, and at halftime dem draw 2-2, but for di second half, di United Kingdom side show grit and take all three points to lead di group. Dem goals, including one of di best of di tournament scored by Wilson Isidor, and overall performance go dey remembered by those wey dey Atlanta.
Dem defend well for di second half, forcing goalkeeper Johny Placide to make eight saves. But di quality and desperation of Morocco make di difference near di end, as dem win 4-2 with two more goals.
Austria score a goal right after halftime through Marko Arnautovic. But Algeria react thanks to a corner and a brilliant individual play by Rafik Belghali. From dat moment till injury time, di intensity drop, as both teams dey satisfied wit di result since both dey go next round.
For one of di biggest surprises of World Cup 2026, Germany get eliminated after losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay, following a tense 1-1 draw in di round of 32. Paraguay play a very disciplined defensive game and strike just before halftime. Germany react after break and find di equalizer. For extra time, Germany tink dem score di winner through Jonathan Tah, but VAR cancel am due to a foul on di Paraguayan goalkeeper, keeping di draw until penalties. Di loss mean di first time Germany ever lose on penalties for World Cup history and extend di crisis of di four-time champion.
For one of di most exciting matches of World Cup 2026, England beat Mexico 3-2 at Estadio Ciudad de Mexico and end di host dream to reach quarterfinals for di first time since 1986. Di victory qualify England to quarterfinals, where dem go face Norway, while Mexico close a notable home campaign, but again fall short of returning to di top eight.
For one of di most dramatic matches of di round of 32, Portugal come from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal and secure dem place in di round of 16, where dem go face Spain. Di match get marked by a controversial VAR decision in di final moments. Di first half dey very balanced, wit few clear chances and both teams prioritizing defensive order. Portugal react with patience and find di equalizer at 68th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo convert a penalty wit authority. When everything dey point to extra time, di denouement come. Di victory allow Portugal advance to di round of 16 and keep alive di dream of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Obviously, e no be di most entertaining match, but Cabo Verde, wey be di smallest nation to reach knockout rounds of World Cup, achieve di feat of finishing second in di group and eliminate Uruguay. Di images after di final whistle dey touching, and nobody for Houston go forget wetin dem see, watching a nation fight wit everything to achieve a feat.
E be another of di most exciting matches of di round of 32 for World Cup 2026, Netherlands get eliminated after losing 3-2 on penalties to Morocco, after a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes. Di Moroccans again show dem strength in knockouts and advance wit justice to di round of 16. Meanwhile, Netherlands say goodbye to di World Cup after a performance marked by lack of decisiveness in key moments.
Belgium stage an unforgettable comeback to beat Senegal 3-2 in a match wey dem suppose lose. Di Africans dominate most of di match and go up 2-0 thanks to goals by Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr, keeping dat lead until di final minutes. However, Romelu Lukaku reduce di deficit at 86th minute and Youri Tielemans equalize at 89th minute, forcing a dramatic extra time. When everything dey point to penalties, Tielemans convert a penalty at 120+5 minute to seal a agonizing qualification of di Red Devils to di round of 16 and leave Senegal eliminated after letting slip a lead wey look definitive.
Argentina suffer more dan expected to overcome Cabo Verde 3-2 in a vibrant match wey dem settle for extra time. Di Albiceleste take di lead twice, but di African side respond wit bravery and carry di match to extra time, thanks to dem intensity and efficiency on counterattack. When penalties look inevitable, Argentina find di qualification goal in extra time, sealing a hard-fought victory wey end di historic World Cup run of Cabo Verde. Wit dis win, di world champions advance to di round of 16 after overcoming one of di most exciting matches of di round of 32.
