Erling Haaland scored his fifth goal of World Cup 2026 against Ivory Coast – just – so France's four-goal pairing of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have a lovely little side quest to pursue when they face Sweden in the round of 32.

This all-European knock-out tie between France and Sweden will be broadcast live and for free in the UK on ITV1. It will also be streamed via ITVX.

Coverage begins at 9:15pm ahead of kick-off at 10:00pm, so let's find out who'll be on hand in ITV's studio in Brooklyn with all you need to know about the France vs Sweden pundits, commentators and presenters.

ITV commentators, presenters and pundits for France vs Sweden

Your presenter in Brooklyn tonight will be Mark Pougatch, whose hand at the tiller will steer the studio panel through pre-match as the teams prepare to get underway at New York New Jersey Stadium.

The familiar face and voice of ITV regular Gary Neville will be with him to run the rule over one of three all-UEFA matches in the World Cup second round.

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Neville will be flanked by a double dose of nineties Arsenal, and what a dose!

Ian Wright scored 128 First Division and Premier League goals for the Gunners between 1991 and 1998, helping the North Londoners to a domestic cup double in 1992-93 and a league and FA Cup double in 1997-98.

The beloved former striker warranted many more England caps than he actually received. He scored nine times in 33 senior appearances for the Three Lions.

One of Manchester United's chief antagonists in Wright's latter days at Highbury and beyond was French midfielder Patrick Vieira.

He won the Premier League three ties as an Arsenal player and was a key contributor as France won the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000.

ITV's live commentary from New Jersey will be provided by the legendary Jon Champion and his regular co-commentator, former Scotland and Rangers striker Ally McCoist.

McCoist ended a storied career with 19 international goals and 10 league titles to his name.

Will Mbappe and Dembele stay among the goals? Let us know your prediction...

A goalkeeper has never scored at the FIFA World Cup.

Yes, you've seen everything over the years at this tournament – from shocks, scandals and everything in between – but never before has a glovesman put the ball in the back of the net.

Some have come close, however…

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No, a goalkeeper has never scored at the World Cup… yet

A goalkeeper has never scored at the World Cup – though the utterly bonkers Jose Luis Chilavert probably came the closest, as free-kick taker for Paraguay during his time as his nation's no.1.

In fact, no goalkeeper has ever so much as taken a penalty in a shootout either, let alone scored one: you may have vague recollections of Ricardo burying England with a spot-kick after taking off his gloves for Portugal (power move, eh), but that was in Euro 2004, and not a World Cup.

Plenty of goalkeepers have earned a spot on the scoresheet for the wrong reasons, with Yann Sommer and Noel Valladares two high-profile examples of keepers netting own goals in recent tournaments, while a few custodians (Chilavert included) have scored in qualification.

Interestingly, an outfield player has never gone in goal in a men's World Cup, either.

The only time that it has ever happened in World Cup football was in 1995, when one of the greatest players of all time, Mia Hamm, put on a pair of gloves to finish a match in goal as an emergency when Briana Scurry was red-carded for the USWNT.

And on the subject of things that have never or barely ever happened in World Cup football, only once has the ball ever gone into the net directly from a corner.

The phenomenon – which Douglas Luiz has been known for – is known as an Olympic goal, and despite nearly 3,000 goals being scored in World Cup football, only one was scored straight from a corner, in 1962 by Colombian Marcos Coll.

There are other records of “nevers” and plenty of records held by just one player at World Cup football.

Never has a foreign manager coached another nation's team to the trophy; likewise, only one player has won three World Cup titles (Pele).

Newcastle United and England full-back Tino Livramento has had surgery on the calf injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, the Premier League club has confirmed.

Livramento was selected in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for World Cup 2026 and travelled to the United States but was injured in training before the Three Lions' Group L opener against Croatia.

He will miss the start of pre-season but is expected to return for training in good time for the start of the Magpies' 2026-27 season.

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'A minor surgical procedure' for Newcastle's Livramento

"Newcastle United can confirm that Tino Livramento has successfully undergone a minor surgical procedure," read a short statement from his club.

"The defender, who returned from World Cup duty with an injury, is expected to return during pre-season. Everyone at the club wishes Tino a smooth and speedy recovery."

The 23-year-old has played six times for England, four under Tuchel and once as part of his former Under-21 boss Lee Carsley's final team selection as caretaker in November 2024.

Livramento, who joined Newcastle from Southampton in 2023, has already experienced a number of injury issues in his young career. Without them, he would undoubtedly have found his way onto the pitch at the World Cup.

Widely regarded as one of England's foremost full-back talents, Livramento has been held back by availability problems. He made just 17 Premier League appearances last season after playing in every league game but one in 2024-25.

England manager Tuchel didn't hide his emotion as he explained how the injury came about after Livramento had to leave the squad.

"I was very disappointed and very sad," said Tuchel. "All of us were.

"It was a little shock in training when he stopped training and he straight away had the feeling that this could be an injury that costs him the tournament and, unfortunately, he was right."

The full-back's target to return will be Newcastle's first game of next season, which sees them welcome Liverpool to St James' Park on Sunday, August 23.

England face DR Congo without Livramento in the round of 32 on Wednesday.

World Cup 2026 boasts not one but two Doues.

Desire Doue, the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger, has a ferocious reputation and back-to-back Champions League winner's medals to verify his exceptional abilities at Europe's newly dominant club.

Doue is at the World Cup with France and shares a last name with another player in another team. Guela Doue, 23 years old and playing for Strasbourg and Ivory Coast, is there too.

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Are Guela Doue and Desire Doue related?

Ivory Coast's Guela Doue and France Desire Doue are brothers from Angers in the west of France. Guela, the older of the two, is a defender who joined Strasbourg from Rennes two summers ago.

Like his younger brother, Guela is a dual citizen and directly eligible to play for Ivory Coast, which he did for the first time in March 2024. He was called up by Emerse Fae for the World Cup and has played in all four of the Elephants' matches.

The brothers were born to a French mother and Ivorian father, and Desire elected to represent his birth nation, France, at international level.

He also left Rennes in 2024 and has revealed himself to be one of European football's outstanding prospects.

Doue the younger has already won Ligue 1 twice as well as the Champions League in the same two seasons. Didier Deschamps will fancy a World Cup winner's medal to go with them.

There are other examples of brothers playing for different international teams over the years and a couple of them are also involved at World Cup 2026.

Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka has represented Switzerland with distinction since 2011 and is hoping to lead them beyond the round of 32. His brother is Taulant Xhaka, a former pro who played international football for Albania. Both were born in Kosovo.

Spain's Nico Williams is at the World Cup but suffered an injury courtesy of Uruguay's Nicolas de la Cruz at the end of the group stage.

His brother is Inaki Williams, who is in the Ghana squad and played in their 0-0 draw with England in the group stage.

Ghana's best World Cup performance to date came in 2010, when their squad included Berlin-born Kevin-Prince Boateng for the first time. His half-brother, Jerome Boateng, was there with Germany.

At every World Cup, there are high-stakes penalty shoot-outs, and they are invariably dramatic, tense and nerve-wracking for those involved.

There have already been two in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup: Paraguay got the better of Germany - believe it or not - in a rollercoaster of a shoot-out, before Morocco beat the Netherlands on penalties.

For some players, handling the anxiety of stepping up under extreme pressure doesn’t come naturally - but they have been given some potentially useful device from fellow sportsmen.

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Darts pros on dealing with pressure

Professional darts players are familiar with the feeling of nervousness that comes with being asked to step up and take an accurate shot at a decisive moment.

Some of the very best spoke to FourFourTwo about coping with those high-stakes moments.

“It’s difficult, especially the last couple of years I’ve struggled with that, but now I think I’m just trying to look at the bigger picture,” said Gian van Veen. “Of course, at that moment it feels really important, but I always think, what happens if you lose this match? Not much.

“Your life still goes on, so that’s how I start looking at it, downplay it a little bit and just think about the bigger picture.”

Former world No.1 Luke Humphries said: “In any sport you’re doing crunch moments, your heart rate goes up a little bit, you feel a little bit tingly, so the most important thing is just staying composed and making sure you don’t let your thoughts run away with you and start thinking negatively.

“Keep your breathing in check to make sure you don’t let your heart go crazy and feel those nerves too much.”

Stephen Bunting added: “The similar thing for us is going for a big, big finish, so I think you need to have massive composure and take your time, deep breath. Look at where you’re throwing it and make sure you put it in the right place.”

Finally, Josh Rock kept it simple. “Take a big deep breath, compose yourself and just relax your body,” he said. “And obviously believe it’s going to go in, the exact same as a goal.”

It’s never as simple as it seems, of course, but taking a penalty with the eyes of the world watching is often more about mentality than technique.

France saunter back to MetLife Stadium for the second time at World Cup 2026 as the 2018 winners meet Sweden for an intriguing last-32 clash.

Les Bleus will hope to be back in New Jersey in just under three weeks' time but must first see off the Scandinavians, who lit up the tournament the last time it was played on US soil, 32 years ago.

This is one of three all-European matches in the round of 32 and the form of their attacking corps undoubtedly makes France the favourites.

Long-time assistant Guy Stephan took charge of Les Bleus' final game in Group I – a 4-1 win against runners-up Norway – while head coach Didier Deschamps attended his mother's funeral. The World Cup winner as both player and manager is back to lead his country again.

France will face Scandinavian opposition for the second match on the bounce. Graham Potter's Swedes boast a fine attack, but have conceded a worrying seven goals this tournament. Now they face Kylian Mbappe. Gulp.

The winner will play Paraguay in the last 16.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch France vs Sweden in the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch France vs Sweden for FREE

France vs Sweden will be free-to-stream across multiple regions, including ITV in the UK, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey.

English commentary will be provided on ITV, RTE Player and SBS On Demand.

‼️ Outside one of these countries? Use Norton VPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world — more on that below.

Watch France vs Sweden from anywhere

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This World Cup, our office friends at TechRadar are recommending Norton VPN:

How to watch France vs Sweden in the UK

In the UK, you can stream France vs Sweden on ITV. The build-up starts at 9:15pm BST, ahead of the kick-off at 10:00pm BST.

How to watch France vs Sweden in the US

In the US, you can stream France vs Sweden on Fox.

This channel is accessible via Fox's own streaming platform Fox One or via a cord-cutting platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.

How to watch France vs Sweden in Australia

In Australia, you can watch France vs Sweden on the free SBS On Demand.

France vs Sweden: World Cup 2026 Preview

Potter might have hoped his side would finish runners-up in Group F, but a 5-1 gubbing by the Dutch put paid to that.

Instead, c'est France. Et France are flying. Deschamps' team won all three group fixtures, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two, but it's the identities of the goalscorers that will alarm Sweden, and the teams who may have Les Bleus pencilled in on their wall charts.

Kylian Mbappe, chasing Lionel Messi's record as the World Cup's top goalscorer even as the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner keeps dragging it away from him, has scored two twice.

Ousmane Dembele ended his wait for a major tournament goal, against Iraq, then followed it up with a 25-minute hat-trick against the Norwegians. For a team that conceded seven times in their group, that's a daunting prospect.

Sweden's World Cup record since winning bronze at USA 94 is patchy to say the least. They were knocked out by England in the 2018 quarter-finals, but that was their only qualification in four attempts before this year's rather fortuitous inclusion.

In 2002 and 2006, their only other World Cups since 1994, they were beaten in their first knockout game. With France in fine fettle, and despite boasting Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up front, is this where Sweden hit the buffers once more?

FourFourTwo's prediction

France 3-1 Sweden

Sweden showed their softer side against the Netherlands. FourFourTwo predicts that France will have enough firepower to exploit the same flaws.

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There is nothing else in football like a World Cup penalty shootout. It's the ultimate all-or-nothing showdown betwixt outfielder and goalkeeper. Score or don't. In or out. Winner stays on.

The penalty shootout is a test of technique, mentality and preparation. It might not be a perfect tie-breaker but it's the fairest we have and its drama is unmatched. Teams that go beyond the group stage at the World Cup had better be ready even if they never truly can.

World Cup 2026 has already ruthlessly eliminated teams through shootouts, fancied teams included, but who's left in the competition and what are their penalty shootout records?

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Which remaining World Cup 2026 team has the best penalty shootout record?

Two of the first four matches in the new round of 32 were settled on penalties.

Paraguay took their World Cup record to two shootout wins from two by beating Germany 16 years after knocking out Japan. Hours later, Morocco defeated the Netherlands – they're also two for two at the World Cup.

Of the teams still standing at the World Cup, Belgium have the best win percentage thanks to victory in their only shootout. It's a small sample size but it was at the World Cup, against Spain, in 1986.

Australia and Argentina have won a lower percentage of their shootouts but have participated in many more. Argentina have won six out of seven at the World Cup including two shootouts (the quarter-final and final) at the last World Cup.

Switzerland have a dreadful record from the spot but only two of the remaining teams have lost every penalty shootout they've been involved in. Good luck, Ecuador and Cape Verde!

In the World Cup, France are carrying the millstone of two shootout defeats in the final and Spain have lost four out of five. In their four World Cup attempts, England have beaten only Colombia in 2018.

Croatia have been involved in four penalty shootouts at the World Cup and have won all four of them. We've crunched the numbers and it turns out that's good.

Penalty shootouts are not lotteries. There's too much skill required and too many variables that are, ultimately, controlled by the two players involved.

Being reliable in such pressurised moments is a different skill to being able to stick the ball away at a purely mechanical level.

Doing it at the World Cup is as difficult as it gets and we've already seen this summer how the moment can break down the abilities of even the best players around.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has retired from international football.

The Germans were dumped out of the last-32 of the World Cup yesterday, after losing on spot-kicks, following a dismal draw with Paraguay over 120 minutes.

Neuer was the sole survivor of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning side – the last time Die Mannschaft actually won a knockout match at the tournament.

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Manuel Neuer has retired from international football for a second time, with Germany in disarray

In an interview with broadcaster Sportschau following Germany's defeat, the 40-year-old confirmed that he would not be available for selection for his national team anymore.

Later on, Neuer answered “no” when asked by Magenta TV if he would play on, affirming his stance and claiming, “It’s very bitter to end it like this.”

Neuer made his debut for Germany in 2009, replacing long-term no.1 Jens Lehmann between the sticks for the 2010 World Cup and establishing himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

The Bayern Munich custodian retired from international football following an exit to Spain at Euro 2024 on home soil, with Oliver Baumann replacing the veteran in the net for Nagelsmann over the past two years.

Despite denials from both Nagelsmann and Neuer himself, however, Neuer performed a U-turn to come out of retirement for a fifth World Cup ahead of this tournament, with Baumann relegated to no.2.

The move has been particularly unpopular back in Germany, with a shock defeat in the Round of 32 to the Paraguayans plunging Nagelsmann's future into doubt, despite the 38-year-old agreeing a contract extension before the World Cup.

Neuer retires as Germany's fifth-highest appearance-maker behind Lothar Matthaus, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski.

The Gelsenkirchen native has established himself as a hugely influential goalkeeper since making his senior debut 21 years ago and departs the international scene with a slew of accolades.

Neuer has twice been Germany's Footballer of the Year, and earned a third-place spot in the Ballon d'Or vote of 2014.

The 40-year-old has one season left on his Bayern contract.

It’s no surprise that Bruno Guimaraes is a wanted man after another strong season with Newcastle United.

The midfielder is starring for Brazil at the World Cup too, playing a superb pass to set up Gabriel Martinelli’s late winner against Japan in the last 32.

Arsenal, it seems, want to make Guimaraes a team-mate of Martinelli’s at club level, but signing the 28-year-old might not be easy.

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Contract clause strengthens Newcastle position

According to Shields Gazette, Newcastle have an option to extend Guimaraes’ contract by an extra year.

His current deal runs until 2028, so that means the Brazilian could, in theory, be tied down until 2029.

That means Newcastle can be more forthright in any negotiations for the player, who they have insisted is not for sale.

It remains to be seen, though, if Guimaraes has had his head turned by the prospect of a move to the Premier League champions, where his salary would increase and he would again play Champions League football.

Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte previously reported that the midfielder has a £60m release clause in his contract, but that has been disputed.

Arsenal have yet to make a formal approach for Guimaraes, and his age could mean the Gunners are unwilling to spend huge money.

But he is said to be “seriously considering” an exit, and Newcastle fans were left worried when he liked a post from Fabrizio Romano on Instagram linking him to Arsenal.

Guimaraes has been at Newcastle since 2022, when he joined the Premier League side from French outfit Lyon.

He has gone on to play a key role in a team that has twice qualified for the Champions League under Eddie Howe, though last season’s 12th-placed finish in the Premier League was a disappointment.

Guimaraes has earned 47 caps for Brazil, registering four assists so far at the World Cup.

Gabby Logan is presenting Ivory Coast vs Norway, with Wayne Rooney, Benni McCarthy and Steph Houghton in the studio – and Steve Bower and Danny Murphy providing commentary.

The knockouts are well and truly on, and it's already provided its share of shocks.

Let's see how this one plays out…

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BBC's complete line-up of commentators, pundits and presenters for Ivory Coast vs Norway

Live from 6pm, Ivory Coast take on Norway in one of the tighter fixtures in this last-32 round of the World Cup.

The presenter for this one is Gabby Logan, who has been one of the Beeb's three main anchors since the departure of Gary Lineker last summer.

There's plenty of talent in the studio with Gabby, too – with one of Match of the Day's biggest names, Wayne Rooney, sitting next to her.

Rooney is there to dissect the likes of Erling Haaland and Yan Diomande, and as England's all-time scorer until Harry Kane broke his record, he knows a thing or two about finishers.

Benni McCarthy certainly does, too – and as an African football legend, he's played against and analysed Ivory Coast plenty.

Steph Houghton, meanwhile, is one of England's most-capped footballers and has represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games.

Commentary comes courtesy of Steve Bower and Danny Murphy.

Murphy played for England nine times, scoring once, and has since carved out a solid career with the BBC.

The referee for today's France vs Sweden match is Danny Makkelie, a senior official from the Netherlands.

As one of UEFA's top referees, Makkelie has officiated matches involving all of the players who will line up either side of him for France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium.

This will be his third match at World Cup 2026 after group stage matches featuring the United States, Paraguay, Morocco and Haiti.

Referee appointment for France vs Sweden

Makkelie, famously a police officer born in Curacao, has been FIFA-listed since 2011. He is one of the most experienced international referees in the game.

World Cup 2026 is his fourth major tournament and his second World Cup. He was in charge of the only Europa League final played behind closed doors in 2020, which was won by Sevilla against Inter Milan.

The 43-year-old attracted attention for his part in a controversial VAR decision in his first match at this World Cup.

Makkelie was the match referee in Los Angeles for the opening game for co-hosts the United States. He issued a yellow card to US captain Tim Ream for a foul on Paraguay's Miguel Almiron.

The decision was reversed and Almiron booked for diving, a very dubious deployment of a 'mistaken identity' clause that was extended to yellow cards but was not intended to introduce re-refereeing.

In his two group stage fixtures, Makkelie racked up a yellow card count of nine. His average in those games was around 50% higher than in his 24 matches in the Eredivisie last season.

He sent a player off every eight matches on average in the league but the World Cup is yet to trouble his back pocket.

Makkelie's assistants in New Jersey are Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, both from the Netherlands. Tori Penso will be on fourth official duty.

Dutch official Dennis Higler will be leading the VAR crew in Dallas.

It's Scandinavia on Scandinavia for France, whose first knock-out game at World Cup 2026 is against the adjoining neighbours of the last team they played in the group stage.

After demolishing Norway's second string, France face Sweden in the round of 32. It's one of three all-UEFA ties in the second round of the World Cup and it's a meeting of serious firepower.

France have the better all-round team by far but if Sweden can get their sharpshooters in position, this might not be a foregone conclusion. If France can do the same for theirs, it will be.

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France vs Sweden betting odds from BOYLE Sports

• France WIN - 1/4
• Draw - 4/1
• Sweden WIN - 9/1

France vs Sweden prediction

The prize for the winners at New York New Jersey Stadium is a last-16 match against Paraguay, the gritty penalty shootout conquerors of Germany.

There might be one or two players on the pitch with a secondary focus on the Golden Boot race, too. Sweden manager Graham Potter has Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak at his disposal but it's the French duo of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele who are really chasing Lionel Messi.

Both of Les Bleus' in-form goal-getters have scored four times at this World Cup, two fewer than former Paris Saint-Germain man Messi. In all, France have scored 10 goals in three games.

If France's progress has been serene, Sweden's has been tumultuous. Their 5-1 opening win against Tunisia proved to be more about Tunisia, who immediately sacked Sabri Lamouchi. Sweden lost to the Netherlands by the same score.

A draw with Japan saw Potter's team through in third place with four points but their results have been less than impressive – unsurprising, given the method by which they qualified in the first place – and they haven't faced anybody of France's quality.

Swedes of a certain vintage will have happy memories of World Cup matches in the United States but that won't offer much cause for optimism.

There's no sanctity in the history books either. France have won this fixture twice as many times as Sweden since these teams met for the first time in 1935.

Score prediction: France 3-1 Sweden

It's difficult to see past Les Bleus. Didier Deschamps team are the very definition of 'been there, done that' no matter how you slice it. They know the level individually and collectively, and coming up against Sweden won't knock that assuredness out of them.

Sweden have the weapons to do damage in this game and sure, stranger things happen in football all the time, but you'll do well to convince us pre-game that this is going any other way.

How to watch France vs Sweden

You can watch France vs Sweden in the last 32 of World Cup 2026 for free. All the information you need is in our how to watch guide.

The match will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, Fox in the United States and SBS in Australia.

What's your France vs Sweden prediction? Let us know below...

It has been a frustrating World Cup so far for Bukayo Saka, who has only started one of England’s three games having struggled with injuries in recent months.

The Arsenal winger came off the bench to register an assist in the 4-2 win over Croatia, but he could not make a similar impact in the goalless draw with Ghana.

He started against Panama and delivered the corner for Jude Bellingham’s opening goal, but Saka has yet to truly catch fire at the tournament.

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Neville and Wright express concern over Saka form

Saka has been a key player for England at recent major tournaments, but he admitted before the World Cup that he was “gambling” with his fitness.

And former England right-back Gary Neville has suggested the 24-year-old is still struggling.

“Bukayo Saka doesn’t look right at all,” Neville said on Sky Bet’s Stick to Football podcast. “He’s usually the boy that’s bubbling and smiling, he’s got that competitive edge to him, but he’s not right and that’s a concern to us I think.”

His sentiments were echoed by ex-England and Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who claimed Saka needs a longer rest.

“Has Bukayo Saka been rushed back?” Wright said. “We’re going into a World Cup, and still not starting the first few games, only starting when we’re three games in, and still isn’t looking like the Saka that we know – this guy needs a break.”

Noni Madueke has started on the right flank in two of England’s three matches so far, while Anthony Gordon was replaced on the left by Marcus Rashford after the Ghana draw.

And Wright highlighted that area of the pitch as a problem for Thomas Tuchel.

“I can’t remember too many tournaments where you’re feeling like you’re on the edge, I feel like that’s normal,” Wright said. “But there are a lot of people [in the England squad] who are not up to speed. Our wingers, and the way we depend on the wingers, are not doing well enough.”

Former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane also gave his verdict on England’s wide players.

“These players [wingers] haven’t quite grabbed their opportunity yet,” he said. “In the group games, you can maybe slip up in one of them, but now at least one of them has to start turning up.”

This is the stage. This is the real stage. The group stage made for light work for Erling Haaland, a striker of the very highest level who was always likely to force Norway through to the last 32.

Now, it's showtime. Knockout football at the World Cup is where legends are made and Haaland's graft starts here, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, against Ivory Coast.

Stale Solbakken, Norway's coach, will rightly point to the other 25 players in his squad. But four goals in two matches, followed by a heavy defeat by France in Haaland's rested absence, tell their own story.

The Manchester City striker brought Norway here. It's likely his contributions will decide how much further they can go.

Norway have never won a World Cup knockout game. In 1998, they were unbeaten in their group, but then lost in the last 16 to Italy, who were also their vanquishers at the same stage in 1938. At USA 94, they didn't even make that far. Yet the Vikings have never had a Haaland before.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, have never even played a knockout game. Can the Elephants do what the Scandinavians never have?

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Ivory Coast vs Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Ivory Coast vs Norway for FREE

Ivory Coast vs Norway will be free-to-stream across multiple regions, including BBC in the UK, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey.

English commentary will be provided on BBC, RTE Player and SBS On Demand.

‼️ Outside one of these countries? Use Norton VPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world — more on that below.

Watch Ivory Coast vs Norway from anywhere

Away from home this summer and want to watch Ivory Coast vs Norway? All you need is a VPN, a handy piece of software that makes your devices appear to be in a different location.

This World Cup, our office friends at TechRadar are recommending Norton VPN:

How to watch Ivory Coast vs Norway in the UK

In the UK, you can stream Ivory Coast vs Norway on BBC. The build-up starts at 5:30pm BST, ahead of the kick-off at 6:00pm BST.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs Norway in the US

In the US, you can stream Ivory Coast vs Norway on Fox.

This channel is accessible via Fox's own streaming platform Fox One or via a cord-cutting platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.

How to watch Ivory Coast vs Norway in Australia

In Australia, you can watch Ivory Coast vs Norway on the free SBS On Demand.

Ivory Coast vs Norway: World Cup 2026 Preview

Ivory Coast set up their meeting with Norway in Dallas by beating Curacao 2-0 and finishing in second place in Group E. Nicolas Pepe scored both goals in Philadelphia, where the Elephants also beat Ecuador.

This is the first-ever meeting between these nations, and it's the first time in a while the European side would have been favourites.

Where once Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure and Yaya Toure led with distinction, the Ivory Coast squad now features only one player with more than 70 caps; Franck Kessie doubles as one of their three group-stage goalscorers.

The newer generation has proven its promise on the big stage, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023, but missing out the last two World Cups was a chilling dose of reality after the glittering squad that made three in a row from 2006.

Norway are at the start of that path. Haaland is a once-in-many-generations player, Martin Odegaard a rare Norwegian winner of the Premier League. With their top players firing, the Vikings and their celebratory row will be back in four years.

For now, Solbakken's sole focus is on reaching the round of 16 by making history with that first knockout win.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway

FourFourTwo fancies this one to go all the way but it's Norway who have the difference-maker and we're backing him to make the difference.

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Cape Verde captain Ryan Mendes is being investigated by police in New Zealand over allegations of rape, according to reports.

The New Zealand Herald claims the 36-year-old, who is his country’s record goalscorer, has been accused of raping a Brazilian woman who worked with the team during a FIFA Series event earlier this year.

The woman has alleged that Mendes forced his way into her room at an Auckland hotel before raping her.

The player is under investigation and has not yet been charged.

It was previously reported in May that authorities were investigating a then-unamed Cape Verde footballer.

In a statement given to The Athletic, a FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.

“As a general rule, please understand that the independent judicial bodies do not comment on allegations they may or may not have received, or whether or not investigations are underway into alleged cases. Any information they may like to share will be communicated at their discretion.

“FIFA is in contact with the New Zealand authorities. Please understand we cannot comment further at this stage.”

Mendes, who has been capped 100 times by Cape Verde, has played all three of his country’s matches at the World Cup.

The African nation have earned plaudits for remaining unbeaten in the group stage - drawing against European champions Spain, two-time winners Uruguay and Saudi Arabia - and progressing to the last 32, where they will meet champions Argentina.

Mendes is expected to start again as Cape Verde play Argentina in Miami on 3rd July.

Two other players at the World Cup are facing allegations of rape: Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Ghana’s Thomas Partey.

The latter, charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in July 2025 by London’s Metropolitan Police, was denied entry to Canada for Ghana’s opening game against Panama, but played vs England in Boston.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who has caught the eye with Ivory Coast at the World Cup.

The 19-year-old, who will be in action tonight against Norway in the last 32, has also attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain, who are now expected to secure his signature.

That would be a blow for Liverpool as they look to add an exciting young wide player to their squad following the exit of Mohamed Salah - but the Reds could have another option.

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Liverpool target PSG’s Barcola

If Diomande joins PSG, the door could be opened for a potential exit.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool could move for winger Bradley Barcola, who might be available in the case of a “big proposal”.

The France international scored 13 goals in 49 appearances for the European champions last season, but Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have often been preferred by Luis Enrique.

Liverpool have reportedly been interested in Barcola since 2025, though David Ornstein claims PSG do not want to sell the 23-year-old and they would prefer to keep him in their rotation with a star signing like Diomande.

The Ligue 1 side are said to value the winger at well over £100m and don’t need to sell even if they spend big on Diomande.

Barcola, though, is reluctant to sign a new contract and wants to start more regularly.

With AC Milan set to sign Goncalo Ramos from PSG for a club record fee, and Lee Kang-in and Randal Kolo Muani set to leave the French capital, Luis Enrique wants to keep Barcola.

It remains to be seen if a big offer from Liverpool would persuade PSG to sell.

In FourFourTwo’s view, Barcola would be an exceptional addition for Liverpool and would likely thrive in an Andoni Iraola team, but much will depend on the fee required to do a deal, and the player's desire to leave Paris.

All eyes are on Arlington as the World Cup's round-of-32 continues.

Ivory Coast and Norway will fight it out for a place in the World Cup's next knockout stage against Brazil, who overcame Japan in dramatic fashion on Monday.

But who will be going through to a showdown with the Selecao?.

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Ivory Coast vs Norway prediction

Les Elephants progressed from the group stage thanks to a smash-and-grab win over Ecuador and a commanding victory over tournament minnows Curacao.

Meanwhile Stale Solbakken's side reached the round-of-32 thanks to two Erling Haaland braces to see off Iraq and Senegal for a second-place qualification finish.

Norway have progressed beyond the group stage in all bar one of their four World Cup appearances with the Manchester City striker already their leading scorer in it.

Haaland could potentially meet his match in this encounter with Yan Diomande looking to emulate one of his Bundesliga predecessors and earn a big move.

Diomande has been a player in demand this summer with Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain involved in a transfer tug-of-war that the latter now looks set to win.

The RB Leipzig forward recorded a first World Cup assist during the win over Curacao while his long-term future continues to play out away from North America.

However Norway are more than a one-man team with captain Martin Odegaard leading the charge from midfield following Arsenal's Premier League title success.

We're backing them to cut Ivory Coast's first-ever knockout involvement short at the first hurdle

Score prediction: Ivory Coast 1-3 Norway

Ivory Coast and Norway will fight it out for a place in the World Cup's last-16.

The World Cup's knockout stage is moving at pace with Ivory Coast and Norway the latest teams preparing to do battle in the round-of-32 on Tuesday evening

Emerse Fae's side are making their first-ever appearance in the tournament's latter rounds after automatically qualifying from Group E behind leaders Germany.

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Referee confirmed for Ivory Coast and Norway clash

The Vikings also reached the round-of-32 from Group I's runner-up as they failed to unseat tournament favourites France from top spot across their three matches.

But who will be refereeing this latest showdown at Arlington's Dallas Stadium?

Jesus Valenzuela has been appointed as the match official for this knockout clash.

The Venezuelan took charge of two World Cup group encounters this summer in Australia's win over Turkiye and Bosnia and Herezegovina's dismantling of Qatar.

He also oversaw two matches at the 2022 edition in Qatar as England and USA played out a goalless draw while France put Poland to the sword in a 3-1 victory.

Valenzuela boasts further international tournament experience after officiating in three Copa America, the Olympics as well as the FIFA Club World Cup twice.

But the 42-year-old is known for a ruthless disciplinary streak after doling out 1,908 yellow cards and 115 sendings-off in his 387 games as a professional referee.

Assisting Valenzuela will be compatriots Jose Urrego and Tulio Moreno while Paraguayan duo Juan Gabriel Benitez and Eduardo Cardozo will be on VAR duty.

Whoever wins the clash will face Brazil in the last-16 after Carlo Ancelotti's side snatched a late 2-1 victory over Japan at Houston Stadium on Monday evening.

New York New Jersey Stadium is set to host the next round tie on 5 July.

It’s a full circle moment. Not so long ago, Swedish national team stars Monica Jusu Bah and Felicia Schröder were just youngsters with a dream, taking part in the Gothia Cup, the world's largest international youth football tournament, in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Their connection with the competition has been renewed as they lend their creative skills to the tournament they enjoyed as children by designing a new set of match kits that will be worn at this year’s tournament. It’s players designing for players.

Monica and Felicia are back, not just as role models, but creators shaping the experience for the next generation. Their remit was to design a match kit from their own perspective, driven by personal experiences in football and what it means to dream, compete and represent something bigger than yourself. The intention was not to create a traditional football kit, but something that reflects identity, connection and ambition.

Ready to Represent

“The idea for the design comes from a personal story,” explains Jusu Bah. “We got tattoos together as a symbol of our friendship, and we thought this would make a great football shirt for the young players representing SKF and Meet the World in Gothia Cup”.

At 23 years old, the winger doesn’t have to think that far back to understand the mindset of the players who will be wearing her match kit. For Schröder, that connection with the 2026 cohort is even closer. At 19, she is just a year older than some of the players who will compete in this year’s Gothia Cup, as players in the tournament range from 11 to 18 years old.

If that wasn’t inspiring enough for this years’ cohort, Schroder signed this summer for Real Madrid, showing what it is possible to achieve in a short period of time.

‘It’s not just a shirt’

The record-breaking teenager explains, “The sun and the moon represent our differences but also what brings us together as friends and football players. It is great to share this with other football lovers from around the world.

“We wanted to create something that feels personal, something we would have been proud to wear ourselves when we were younger. It’s not just a shirt. It represents where you come from and where you want to go.

“We hope the players feel confident and connected when they wear it, like they are part of something bigger. It’s about passing something on. We’ve been in their position, and now we can give something back.”

Dream Big

Designing for the next generation and showing the power that big dreams in football has, and where that can take a person. They have deliberately injected that personal perspective into these designs and the creative process was intuitive and natural rather than technical. These shirts are something they would have wanted to wear when they were younger.

The Gothia Cup is truly an international experience – the world's largest and most intercontinental youth football tournament, it takes place annually in Gothenburg, Sweden where around 1,900 teams from 75 nations take part, playing almost 5,000 matches on 112 pitches.

‘That could be me’

The competition takes youngsters from around the world on a unique journey, providing them with a special opportunity to travel, see a new part of the world and connect with people of their age and build lasting friendships.

A month after the competition, Jusu Bah and Schröder will play in the European playoffs in October that will determine whether or not Sweden will play in the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year. They are expected to progress.

When players pull on Jusu Bah and Schröder’s special kit in July, they can legitimately think about breaking world records, playing on the biggest stage of all and believe “that could be me”.

Our free-to-play World Cup match predictor is at Round 4, and we are pleased to confirm that the winners of Round 3 have been crowned. They took home a £250 share of the pot, having successfully predicted 18 out of 24 results.

The deadline to play Round 4 is at 8pm on tomorrow evening, with the game completely free to play, and very real cash to win.

Now we are into the knockout stages, the difficulty has gone up a notch. We want players to predict the nation they think will progress, PLUS (as a tie-breaker) the total goals in normal time (extra-time and penalties not included) for eight Round of 32 games.

Play below for free!

We must thank our sponsors BOYLE Sports for providing the cash prize, which renews each round. Better still, BOYLE Sports give everyone who logs a set of predictions a free £5 bet simply for playing. All you need is a BOYLE Sports account – make sure you have your account number handy to enter when you make your predictions. The free bet will be credited within 48 hours of the deadline and valid to use for seven days.

Fancy getting in on the action? Round 4 is ready to play above, but closes at 8pm TOMORROW. After that, there are still four more rounds to play, so four more opportunities to win the £1,000 pot and four more £5 free bets to redeem.

Schedule and format

Matchday 1: Predict every nations' first game (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 2: Predict every nations' second game: (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 3: Predict every nations' third game: (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 4: Predict the outcomes of the final eight Round of 32 games: (winner + amount of goals in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens) CLOSES 8pm WEDS
Matchday 5: Predict the outcomes of the final four Round of 16 games: (winner + amount of goals in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens)
Matchday 6: Predict the outcomes of the final three Quarter Final games: (winner + correct scoreline in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens)
Matchday 7: Predict the correct scorelines of the two Semi Finals after 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens, with the minute of the first goal in the first Semi Final the tie breaker
Matchday 8: Predict the correct scorelines of the 3rd Place Playoff and World Cup Final after 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens, with the minute of the first goal in the World Cup Final the tie breaker

Deadlines

Matchday 1: Closed

Matchday 2: Closed

Matchday 3: Closed

Matchday 4: Closes Weds 1 July, 8pm BST

Matchday 5: Closes Thurs 6 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 6: Closes Fri 10 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 7: Closes Tues 14 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 8: Closes Sat 18 July, 9pm BST

England’s World Cup campaign began in Texas with an eye-catching 4-2 win over Croatia.

The second-half performance in Dallas got fans excited, but things were less exhilarating in Boston as Thomas Tuchel’s team were held to a goalless draw by Ghana.

Then it was over to the New York New Jersey Stadium, where England laboured to a 2-0 victory over Panama to finish top of Group L.

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Where do England play in the last 32?

Having been on the East Coast for their final two group matches, it’s back down south for the first knockout round.

England will play DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium in the state of Georgia on Wednesday.

The weather is forecast to be a sweltering 34 degrees Celsius in Atlanta, but the stadium, mercifully, has a roof and air conditioning.

That should help England as they look to advance to the last 16 and set up a potential clash with co-hosts Mexico or Ecuador at Estadio Azteca.

Atlanta Stadium has so far hosted four matches at the World Cup: Morocco’s 4-2 win over Haiti, Spain’s goalless draw with Cape Verde, Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia and DR Congo’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.

DR Congo have already played at the 75,000-capacity arena, so they will be more familiar with their surroundings than England.

Whether or not that will be a major factor remains to be seen, but England are the favourites to progress.

The theme of their last two matches, against Ghana and Panama, is expected to continue, with DR Congo likely to sit deep and attempt to counter attack.

The Three Lions will hope Atlanta Stadium does not play host to another 0-0 draw akin to Cape Verde’s memorable meeting with Spain.

France have looked ominously strong at the World Cup so far, powering past Norway, Senegal and Iraq to comfortably win what looked like a potentially tricky group.

They next face a Sweden side that shipped seven goals in their group, and the expectation is that Les Blues will progress to the last 16.

It seemed likely that France would face Germany, but instead they will come up against a defensively resilient Paraguay should they beat Sweden.

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How overlooked advantage could benefit France

In Qatar four years ago, Argentina played the majority of their matches at the Lusail Stadium, including the quarter-final, semi-final and final.

Lionel Messi and co. clearly felt increasingly comfortable at the arena, where winning became a habit.

France could well benefit from something similar, as they prepare to play at the New York New Jersey Stadium for the second time in their last 32 match.

Didier Deschamps’ side won their tournament opener against Senegal in New York, and could yet go to the stadium for the final on July 19th.

Familiarity with a stadium at a major tournament, where the environment is often one of the challenges, can only be a positive.

And it’s not just the New York New Jersey Stadium where France could get comfortable.

They also played at the Philadelphia Stadium in the group stage, beating Iraq 3-0 (after an interruption due to bad weather), and Boston Stadium where they dominated Norway 4-1.

If they beat Sweden, France will meet Paraguay in Philadelphia, ensuring that they stay on the USA’s East Coast. Make it to the final, and France will have played three of their eight games in New York/New Jersey.

While those fine margins could prove crucial in knockout football, the quality in France’s squad is likely to be a deciding factor too.

Kylian Mbappe has started the World Cup strongly, while Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise also look in formidable form.

Some familiar voices are soundtracking the UK's World Cup coverage, with BBC and ITV headlining their coverage with a host of well-known voices from their flagship football programming.

The broadcasters have taken different approaches to their studio setups, with the Beeb staying in Salford while ITV ventured Stateside; both still have boots on the ground, and mics.

At the time of writing, 75% of the games have been played, so that feels like a sufficient body of data from which to rank the commentators calling the action in North America this summer. Running it down from 12 to 1, here's who we think has excelled and who has excruciated.

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BBC and ITV's World Cup commentators ranked

12. Sam Matterface

As painful as he is polarising, Matterface's commentary remains toe-curling. It's hard to find anyone with a positive word about his mic work who isn't a blood relative. Brace yourself for another potential foot-in-mouth moment if England manage to go far in the tournament.

11. Jonathan Pearce

'JP' found his vocal range when describing Eric Cantona's kung-fu kick at Selhurst Park in 1995 and never really dialled it down. A man for whom the phrase 'gravelly overtones' was tailor-made. A legendary voice, yes. But one to be enjoyed in small doses these days.

10. Vicki Sparks

The first female commentator to take the lead for a World Cup game on British TV is highly adept, but her enthusiasm during New Zealand and Belgium's recent bleary-eyed encounter wasn't exactly infectious. Like an over-enthusiastic holiday rep when you're managing a particularly violent hangover.

9. Joe Speight

The man who ITV occasionally threw it back to after Duncan Ferguson finished tormenting his fellow studio pundits. A tough act to follow for any commentator. A harmless if unremarkable RP tone.

8. Steve Bower

A staple of Match of the Day's line-up, what you hear is what you get with Bower. Solid, polished – equally at home voicing a Messi wonder strike as is he is a broadband advert.

7. Steve Wilson

A voice that sounds so much like a friendly village pub landlord, you get cravings for triple-cooked chips in the middle of Czech Republic vs South Africa.

6. Steven Wyeth

A powerful commentary voice, but marked down for overuse of the word 'extraordinary '.

5. Robyn Cowen

There hasn't been many remarkable soundbites from Cowen at this World Cup, like her memorable Women's Euro 2022 line of 'Dream makers, record breakers, game changers' but it's only a matter of time, surely. A victim of her own success in that it can be jarring to hear her commentate on anything that isn't a Lionesses game.

4. Liam McLeod

Scotland's long-awaited but ultimately short-lived World Cup return saw McLeod step up as their lead BBC commentator, a huge honour that became a thankless task at times. One of the few things Scotland can be proud of at this tournament.

3. Seb Hutchinson

Born to call long-range screamers. If he can improve his short game, he could be a real contender for top spot.

2. Jon Champion

The closest thing to the late Clive Tyldesley, who we are mourning the loss of despite still being alive. Champion is by name and nature a man who embodies the last great era of football commentary. Perfectly gastromatched to Alan Shearer. Feels like our last connection to the legends of the mic.

1. Guy Mowbray

Like watching a game with a mate, authoritative, knowledgeable, without being overbearing or patronising. A totally natural caller of football.

Football quiz incoming.

Every four years, the World Cup goes to one lucky country – and one player from the tournament is crowned the best in the competition with a Golden Ball award. It often goes to an era-defining superstar (not necessarily always).

Today, we don't just want you to name every player to have won the biggest individual prize at the World Cup, but the Silver and Bronze balls, too (for second and third, obvs). Eight minutes at the ready, with 33 players to guess over the last 11 World Cups. Go!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Ready for more quizzes?. To see if your mental stamina can survive a summer of back-to-back matchdays, we've drawn up a lineup of teasers designed to test your awareness of the modern masterminds pulling the strings and the icons who have defined the grandest stage on Earth – courtesy of Kwizly.

We’re launching straight into the current tournament's technical area and its most ruthless finishers. With tactical battles unfolding daily across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, we want to see if you can identify the brains in the dugout by naming every manager at World Cup 2026. Once you've mapped out the tactical bosses, shift your focus to the ultimate cheat code of modern football by seeing if you can get 100 per cent in our Erling Haaland quiz, to celebrate the Nordic marksman lighting up his very first World Cup with a flurry of goals.

If the past is more your thing, take a nostalgia trip exactly twenty years into the past to test your memory on Zinedine Zidane's dramatic curtain call and Italy's Berlin triumph with The Big 2006 World Cup Quiz. After conquering the archives of that iconic tournament, bring your focus back to domestic icons and try to name every England player with over 50 caps: an exhaustive trial of international longevity that separates armchair analysts from the true historians who remember every stalwart to earn a half-century of international honours.

To lower your pulse after navigating that massive statistical workout, find a quiet spot in the dugout for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 59, featuring a brilliantly niche focus on 80s heroes, midfield maestros, and non-FIFA nations. To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

We've got another quiz for you.

In over two decades in the game, Cristiano Ronaldo has become a byword for mentality, plundering nearly 1,000 goals, winning virtually everything in the sport and surfing new heights with Portugal – but how much of that glittering career can you actually recall?

We've put together 20 questions on the man himself, from those early days alongside Luis Figo to the current day of leading the line for his nation: what do you remember about CR7's career?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Ready for more quizzes?. To see if your mental stamina can survive a summer of back-to-back matchdays, we've drawn up a lineup of teasers designed to test your awareness of the modern masterminds pulling the strings and the icons who have defined the grandest stage on Earth – courtesy of Kwizly.

We’re launching straight into the current tournament's technical area and its most ruthless finishers. With tactical battles unfolding daily across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, we want to see if you can identify the brains in the dugout by naming every manager at World Cup 2026. Once you've mapped out the tactical bosses, shift your focus to the ultimate cheat code of modern football by seeing if you can get 100 per cent in our Erling Haaland quiz, to celebrate the Nordic marksman lighting up his very first World Cup with a flurry of goals.

If the past is more your thing, take a nostalgia trip exactly twenty years into the past to test your memory on Zinedine Zidane's dramatic curtain call and Italy's Berlin triumph with The Big 2006 World Cup Quiz. After conquering the archives of that iconic tournament, bring your focus back to domestic icons and try to name every England player with over 50 caps: an exhaustive trial of international longevity that separates armchair analysts from the true historians who remember every stalwart to earn a half-century of international honours.

To lower your pulse after navigating that massive statistical workout, find a quiet spot in the dugout for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 59, featuring a brilliantly niche focus on 80s heroes, midfield maestros, and non-FIFA nations. To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

Following Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa at SoFi Stadium, The Athletic journalist Colin Millar noted a unique distinction achieved by match-winner Stephen Eustáquio.

By scoring a dramatic 92nd-minute goal to secure Canada’s first-ever knockout phase win, the midfielder technically became the first player who has represented Portugal at any international level to score a World Cup knockout goal while wearing the number 7 shirt.

Eustáquio, who currently wears the No. 7 jersey for Canada, was born in Ontario to Portuguese parents and represented Portugal at the Under-21 level before committing his senior international career to Canada in 2019.

Cristiano Ronaldo is STILL in search of a first World Cup knockout goal

The statistic highlights a notable omission in Cristiano Ronaldo's extensive career CV.

Despite being the all-time leading goalscorer in international men's football and featuring in multiple World Cups for Portugal, Ronaldo has never scored a goal during the knockout rounds of the tournament.

The statistical quirk emerges as Ronaldo and the current Portugal squad prepare for their own upcoming Round of 32 knockout match against Croatia in Toronto.

Ronaldo became the first man to score at six different World Cups with his brace against Uzbekistan during the group stage.

His goal haul is as follows:

2006 (Germany): 1 goal (vs. Iran)

2010 (South Africa): 1 goal (vs. North Korea)

2014 (Brazil): 1 goal (vs. Ghana)

2018 (Russia): 4 goals (Hat-trick vs. Spain, 1 vs. Morocco)

2022 (Qatar): 1 goal (vs. Ghana)

2026 (USA/Mexico/Canada): 2 goals (vs. Uzbekistan)

Elimination to Croatia, without finding the back of the net, would mean in all likelihood that CR7 retires from the game without that knockout goal.

Ronaldo has 10 FIFA World Cup goals, nine shy of record scorer Lionel Messi.

Quiz, anyone?

The great thing about a 48-team World Cup is that all the big teams are here (well, apart from one or two), so there's plenty of heritage across the competition: gone are the days of a 16-team tournament where only one team from the home nations and a couple from the entirety of Africa will qualify.

But can you tell us the most successful sides to have ever graced this competition? We've given you 10 minutes to list the top 40 teams… but there's a catch. We want you to do it in order. Get that backspace button at the ready!

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

Ready for more quizzes?. To see if your mental stamina can survive a summer of back-to-back matchdays, we've drawn up a lineup of teasers designed to test your awareness of the modern masterminds pulling the strings and the icons who have defined the grandest stage on Earth – courtesy of Kwizly.

We’re launching straight into the current tournament's technical area and its most ruthless finishers. With tactical battles unfolding daily across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, we want to see if you can identify the brains in the dugout by naming every manager at World Cup 2026. Once you've mapped out the tactical bosses, shift your focus to the ultimate cheat code of modern football by seeing if you can get 100 per cent in our Erling Haaland quiz, to celebrate the Nordic marksman lighting up his very first World Cup with a flurry of goals.

If the past is more your thing, take a nostalgia trip exactly twenty years into the past to test your memory on Zinedine Zidane's dramatic curtain call and Italy's Berlin triumph with The Big 2006 World Cup Quiz. After conquering the archives of that iconic tournament, bring your focus back to domestic icons and try to name every England player with over 50 caps: an exhaustive trial of international longevity that separates armchair analysts from the true historians who remember every stalwart to earn a half-century of international honours.

To lower your pulse after navigating that massive statistical workout, find a quiet spot in the dugout for FourFourTwo’s Weekend Crossword 59, featuring a brilliantly niche focus on 80s heroes, midfield maestros, and non-FIFA nations. To ensure you stay one step ahead of the late tactical shifts as the knockout rounds loom, subscribe to our newsletter for your daily afternoon briefing of hand-picked trivia. To truly secure your legacy this summer, make sure you've joined The Club, our free membership hub that serves as your digital dugout, where you can unlock secret hints for the toughest quizzes, fight for the top of the global leaderboards, and join the debate in the comments section as the tournament drama unfolds.

Arsenal have had an approach for England and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott rejected.

The Cherries - who have qualified for the Europa League for the first time in their history - insist the midfielder is not for sale and are planning on offering him a new contract, according to the Daily Mail.

Arsenal did not make an official bid for Scott but are keen to bolster their midfielder this summer but have a number of options they are looking at.

Arsenal looking for midfield reinforcements

Newcastle’s Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali is an option, but they face competition from North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.

Relegated West Ham's Mateus Fernandes is also an option as is Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi but both players are highly converted by clubs across Europe.

Manchester United and Tottenham are the main runners for Fernandes so far.

United, Spurs and Chelsea are also interested in 22-year-old Scott who is valued close to £80m.

UAE Second Division side Arabian Falcons FC have made a statement signing ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, securing the addition of Premier League winner Danny Simpson as a player-coach.

The 39-year-old right-back has come out of retirement to join the Dubai-based club, where he will balance on-pitch duties with a role in the backroom staff of manager Jonjo Shelvey.

Simpson brings vast experience to the Falcons, most notably from his pivotal role in Leicester City’s historic 5,000/1 title-winning season in 2016, alongside promotions with Newcastle United, Sunderland, and QPR.

Jonjo Shelvey is getting the band back together

"The opportunity to join Jonjo and this exciting project was one I couldn’t turn down," Simpson said. "I still have plenty to offer on the pitch.

"The club has a clear plan, and I want to play my part in delivering a successful promotion-winning campaign," he said.

The signing reunites Simpson with a formidable contingent of former English top-flight stars. Manager Jonjo Shelvey, who earned six caps for England during a career spanning spells at Swansea City, Liverpool and Newcastle, took the managerial reins for the final five games of last season.

After narrowly missing out on promotion, Shelvey is preparing for his first full year in the dugout.

"Danny is the ideal signing—a Premier League champion with vast experience, leadership, and a winning mentality," Shelvey stated. "This is the start of us building a team I firmly believe can win promotion this season."

Further strengthening the club's leadership, the Falcons also confirmed a one-year contract extension for club captain Ravel Morrison. The former Manchester United prodigy will anchor the midfield alongside the guidance of co-owner and head of football operations Jason Puncheon.

"This signing sends a strong message about our ambition," Puncheon said, reiterating the club's short-term goal of reaching the UAE First Division.

Beyond first-team ambitions, the club has launched the Arabian Falcons Academy. Led by the experienced quartet of Shelvey, Simpson, Morrison, and Puncheon, the academy will establish a development pathway for youth prospects across the UAE.

The Falcons' journey will be captured in an upcoming behind-the-scenes documentary tracking the team throughout the 2026/27 season.

Ready?

Handpicked football quizzes we know you'll love

More World Cup quizzes, you say? Lucky you! We’ve dipped straight back into the international archives to pull out a pristine selection of trivia trials designed to test your knowledge of global icons and historic tournaments, courtesy of Kwizly. Whether you are tracing the long-serving stalwarts of European football or mapping out the grandest matches in sporting history, we’ve got something for everyone. Strap in!

We are starting with an ultimate examination of international endurance, focusing on a European powerhouse known for its ruthless efficiency and tournament consistency. We want to see if you can name every player to have won 50 or more caps for Germany, a massive roll call of elite talent that stretches across generations of world champions, defensive anchors, and legendary midfield metronomes. To balance that specific powerhouse against global longevity, we are also challenging you to sort these 30 players by their international caps.

Next, to name every France player to have played in a World Cup final, a task that spans the triumphant nights of 1998 and 2018 alongside the high-drama heartbreaks that went down to the wire. If you want a hit of pure retro nostalgia closer to home, switch your focus to the opening night of France 98 and see if you can tell us the Scotland XI that faced Brazil in 1998. It was a legendary evening in Paris, and we want to see if you can recall the precise starting line-up that walked out to face Ronaldo and company under the stadium lights.

The thin line between tournament immortality and absolute devastation is often decided from twelve yards out, which leads directly to a test of nerves under the highest pressure imaginable. We are challenging you to name every player to score in a World Cup penalty shootout this century, an intensive archive that covers every successful spot-kick executed during the modern era's most dramatic knockout tiebreakers. To keep your memory locked into that golden era of the mid-2000s, take a crack at The Big 2006 World Cup Quiz and see if you can secure 20 correct answers. It’s a thorough evaluation of that unforgettable German summer, tracking everything from Zidane's dramatic final chapter to the breakthrough moments of a young generation of future icons.

For the genuine scholars who consider standard multiple-choice questions a mere warm-up, the final stretch shifts into serious academic territory. Grab a pen and settle down with FourFourTwo's Weekend Crossword 59, an intricate grid exploring 80s heroes, midfield maestros and non-FIFA nations that demands a sharp lateral mind and an exceptional grasp of retro footballing culture. Once you have successfully navigated those cryptic boxes, steel your resolve for Pre-Match Poser no.33, an elite-level football quiz question explicitly engineered to puzzle the most confident statisticians by targeting a hyper-specific pocket of sporting heritage that only a true historian could unearth.

Don’t let your encyclopedic knowledge of the beautiful game evaporate as a passing thought; turn your trivia triumphs into an official matter of record by joining The Club, our free digital community hub. It is the perfect central repository to log your scores, claim exclusive digital badges for your profile, and see precisely where your footballing IQ sits when stacked against the sharpest minds in the global fanbase. To ensure your mental reflexes sharp, get the weekday newsletter, which drops a freshly prepared dose of high-intensity trivia straight to your inbox every single afternoon so you are always primed for the next kickoff.

The Netherlands opened the scoring against Morocco in their Round of 32 clash at the 2026 World Cup courtesy of Cody Gakpo's second half strike.

Liverpool winger Gakpo moved within one goal of equalling Johnny Rep's record as the highest goalscorer in Dutch World Cup history.

The 27-year-old was put through on goal by teammate Crysencio Summerville who met Wout Weghorst's flick on and ran clear of the Morocco backline.

Cody Gakpo in muted Netherlands celebration after family tragedy

After sweeping in the Dutch opener, Gakpo broke down on the pitch in what was a muted celebration given the significance of his goal.

The Netherlands bench emptied and ran to join the Reds' winger inside the Morocco penalty area, consoling and congratulating Gakpo.

Gakpo started the match despite spending the past 48 hours surrounded by family following the passing of his and his partner's unborn child.

Dutch national team boss Ronald Koeman and skipper Virgil van Dijk both praised the couple's strength during this incredibly difficult time.

“We have done what was within our power in ​terms of support, as players, as staff,” Koeman said.

“Of course, the ​first few days he had the freedom to go out to his family and be with them. He dealt with it very well, there ​was never a moment where he said ‘I want to go ​back, I want to be with the family’.”

Van Dijk referenced the respect he feels for his club and international teammate, specifically in how Gakpo and his family had dealt with the situation.

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“The most important ​thing is to ⁠ask: ‘What do you need?’ It’s awful news and it shows that football is secondary. There ​are more important things in life. It’s very ​sad but ⁠Cody deals with it."

Gakpo has scored three goals and registered one assist for the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, netting a brace against Sweden before his Round of 32 heroics.

Germany's record from the penalty spot in World Cups was the stuff of legend.

On the four occasions that Germany were taken down to a World Cup shootout, they won each occasion and missed just one of the 18 efforts taken during those events.

Such was their notoriety that Gary Lineker famously claimed 'football is a simple game where 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win'.

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World Cup history made by Germany exit

But that all changed on Monday evening as Julian Nagelsmann's side crashed out of the round-of-32 stage to Paraguay after a 4-3 defeat on penalties in Foxborough.

Die Mannschaft had to overturn a first-half deficit at Boston Stadium as Kai Havertz levelled before appearing to snatch an extra-time winner through Jonathan Tah.

However a VAR review saw the Bayern Munich defender's effort disallowed for a foul by Waldemar Anton on goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up to the goal.

Tah later missed the decisive kick during sudden death after Havertz and Woltemade both spurned their efforts to make history for all the wrong reasons.

The shootout loss was not only Germany's first at a World Cup but remarkably only their second in a major tournament after the 1976 European Championship final.

That previous result memorably gave rise to the Panenka technique used by Antonin Paneka for what is now Czech Republic to beat German goalkeeper Sepp Maier.

Germany used to have a flawless record when it came to penalty shootouts at the FIFA World Cup.

They are widely considered the undisputed kings of the spot-kick, having won all four of their previous World Cups shootouts - until meeting Paraguay in Boston.

Out of 24 total penalties taken by German players in World Cup shootouts, they have scored 20.

German players were born to take pressure penalties

The only time a German player had failed to score in a World Cup shootout, before Kai Havertz, Nick Woltemade and Jonathan Tah missed against Paraguay, was back in 1982, when Uli Stielike's shot was saved by France's Jean-Luc Ettori.

Between 1982 and 2026, Germany had converted every single penalty they had taken at the tournament.

While Germany have missed only a handful of times, their goalkeepers have also been incredibly efficient.

Out of the 24 penalties faced, opponents have only scored 14. German keepers have saved eight, and England's Chris Waddle famously blazed one over the bar in 1990. Paraguay's Antonio Sanabria also shot wide in 2026.

The streak began during the 1982 semi-finals with a 5–4 shootout victory over France following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

They secured their second shootout win four years later in the 1986 quarter-finals, defeating hosts Mexico 4–1 after the match ended goalless.

In the 1990 semi-finals, Germany overcame England 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw, before most recently extending their perfect record in the 2006 quarter-finals by defeating Argentina 4–2 after another 1–1 draw after extra time.

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Even in normal time (excluding shootouts), Germany’s efficiency from the penalty spot remains top tier, though not quite perfect.

In their World Cup history, Germany (including West Germany) have taken 14 in-game penalties, successfully converting 12 of them.

Netherlands vs Morocco will be refereed by Wilton Sampaio, from Brazil.

Co-hosts Canada became the first side to book a place in the last-16 when they saw off South Africa with an injury-time goal on Sunday, while Brazil will take on Japan in Monday's early kick-off, which will be followed by Germany vs Paraguay.

It's then over to Monterrey for what - on paper, at least - should be one of the best ties of this first knock-out round.

Referee confirmed for Netherlands vs Morocco

Despite being held to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener against Japan, the Netherlands would go on to progress as group winners following emphatic wins over Sweden and Tunisia.

That meant that Group C's second-place finishers awaited them, with Morocco finishing behind Brazil on goal difference after also claiming two wins and a draw in the opening phase of the tournament.

The referee for this match will be Wilton Sampaio.

And yes, that's the Brazilian official who sent off three players in the opening match of the tournament, when he gave South Africa duo Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, plus Mexico's Cesar Montes, red cards during the co-host's 2-0 victory at the Azteca.

Sampaio's other match in the tournament was a quieter affair, as he oversaw Norway's 3-2 victory over Senegal without having to dole out any cards.

England fans may also recognise the 44-year-old from England's 2-1 quarter-final defeat to France at the last World Cup in 2022.

Sampaio will be joined by his countrymen Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia as assistant referees.

Chile's Cristian Garay will be the fourth official for this one, while the reserve official will be another Chilean in Jose Retamal.

Details of the VAR crew for this one are yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.

The second competitive meeting between the Netherlands and Morocco promises to be one of the most fascinating last-32 ties at the World Cup 2026.

Two continental champions meet in Monterrey, Mexico, in one of the most evenly matched fixtures thus far – this is world No.7 vs No.6 in FIFA's live, if unofficial, world rankings.

The last time these teams met in a match of consequence was across the Gulf of Mexico in the group stage of the last World Cup to be hosted in the United States, in 1994.

The Netherlands won that match thanks to a late Bryan Roy winner, and went on to top a group in which three teams finished on six points.

Bottom of the table back then, three losses out of three in their third World Cup, were Morocco. The Atlas Lions have come on a bit since then and fancy a bit of revenge.

Canada lie in wait for the winners in the round of 16, in Houston, for a July 4th celebration with a difference. Rare are the chances to line up a match against a host nation outside their own country at the World Cup.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Netherlands vs Morocco in the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Netherlands vs Morocco for FREE

Netherlands vs Morocco will be free-to-stream across multiple regions, including ITV in the UK, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey.

English commentary will be provided on ITV, RTE Player and SBS On Demand.

‼️ Outside one of these countries? Use Norton VPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world — more on that below.

Watch Netherlands vs Morocco from anywhere

Away from home this summer and want to watch Netherlands vs Morocco? All you need is a VPN, a handy piece of software that makes your devices appear to be in a different location.

This World Cup, our office friends at TechRadar are recommending Norton VPN:

How to watch Netherlands vs Morocco in the UK

In the UK, you can stream Netherlands vs Morocco on ITV. The build-up starts at 1:15am BST, ahead of kick-off at 2:00am BST.

How to watch Netherlands vs Morocco in the US

In the US, you can stream Netherlands vs Morocco on Fox.

This channel is accessible via Fox's own streaming platform Fox One or via a cord-cutting platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.

How to watch Netherlands vs Morocco in Australia

In Australia, you can watch Netherlands vs Morocco on the free SBS On Demand.

Netherlands vs Morocco: World Cup 2026 Preview

Both teams have tasted international success. Morocco have won the Africa Cup of Nations once on the pitch, and were given it a second time after Senegal's shenanigans in the most recent edition back in January. The Dutch, meanwhile, won Euro 88.

They've each left their marks on the World Cup, too. The Netherlands are three-time finalists, Morocco were the first African team to reach the semi-finals, thanks to a stellar tournament in Qatar four years ago.

Canada's elimination of South Africa in the first round of 32 match ruled out an all-African clash. Instead, it's the co-hosts who'll be lining up against one of these teams in Houston.

Held in Monterrey, Mexico, this is the first match either side will have played outside the United States this tournament. The Netherlands drew with Japan and thrashed Sweden, both in Texas, and ended the group stage with a 3-1 win against Tunisia in Kansas City.

Since starting against Sweden, Brian Brobbey has impressed as Ronald Koeman's first-choice No.9. The Sunderland forward has struck three times in North America, while the Oranje have hit 10 – no side has been more prolific.

Morocco began with a point against Brazil in New Jersey, before beating Scotland in Boston and Haiti in Atlanta. Their draw with A Selecao was the most impressive result on paper but a resilient display against Scotland shouldn't be overlooked.

Bayern Munich-bound attacker Ismael Saibari scored in all three fixtures, while skipper Achraf Hakimi continues to provide thrust from full-back. Plenty of admiring eyes will be on Lille teenage prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi in midfield, too.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Netherlands 3-2 Morocco

The Netherlands have found goals easy to come by and FourFourTwo predicts the Oranje to go through.

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Netherlands bid for a first World Cup title reaches the knockout stages early on Tuesday morning.

Ronald Koeman's side topped Group F, ahead of Japan and Sweden and will be pitted against a Morocco, a side who finished as runners-up behind the Brazil in Group C.

Netherlands and Morocco have only met twice in the past and both games ended 2-1 to the Dutch - in 2017 and 1994.

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ITV's complete line-up of commentators, pundits and presenters for Netherlands vs Morocco

The match kicks off at 2am UK time, with live coverage available on ITV1 and online at ITVX. Laura Woods will be at the helm in the ITV studio in Brooklyn, where she is joined by two pundits, former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson as well as ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Spain midfielder Juan Mata.

ITV's commentator Seb Hutchinson will be up on the gantry at the Estadio Monterrey.

Hutchinson will be joined by Andros Townsend on co-commentary duties.

The winners of this tie will face co-hosts Canada in the last 16 game on July 4 at the Houston Stadium.

Good things come to those who wait, and that proved to be the case for me in Texas today en route to the World Cup Round of 32 match between Brazil and Japan. Whilst it only took me two minutes to get from my hotel to Houston Stadium, it took me more than an hour to find my way past the hordes of supporters and navigate the labyrinth of a stadium.

After trekking around the entire venue and asking dozens of volunteers and horseback policemen for help, I finally arrived with just under a half-hour to go before kickoff, trading oppressive Houston heat for overpowered air conditioning inside the press box.

There, I found a complimentary buffet loaded with Brazilian fare like feijoada (a rich stew made with black beans, pork and beef) as well as local options like green beans. I also found an incredible viewing area, with a steep perspective enabling me to see the entire field. Unlike some venues, like New York/New Jersey, the window panes were removed, allowing journalists to actually hear the cacophonous crowd noise.

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Brazil take major step towards winning their first World Cup in 24 years

More importantly, however, the game itself actually surpassed expectations. Brazil started off the stronger side, heaping pressure onto the opposing defence and banging on the door for the opening goal, only to be denied by Japan's last-gasp rear guard.

But Japan rode the storm and eventually struck first blood, via Kaishu Sano capitalising on a careless giveaway from Casemiro and taking aim from distance to put the Samurai Blue in the driving seat.

The last time they played in October, Brazil entered halftime with a 2-0 lead before conceding three goals in Tokyo. This time, however, they completely flipped the script, with the halftime substitution of Endrick for Lucas Paquetá working like a charm.

With two attackers up top, Brazil started to congest the Samurai Blue deeper into their own half. In contrast to the first half, when they dominated possession but were still vulnerable to transitions, there was no such threat in the second 45 minutes.

It seemed only a matter of time before they equalised, and it was Casemiro who atoned for his error with a trademark headed goal in the 56th minute. Not to rest on his laurels, Carlo Ancelotti subbed on Gabriel Martinelli for Matheus Cunha, whilst Hajime Moriyasu made a string of defensive substitutions.

Japan were hanging on, relying on the shot-stopping heroics of Zion Suzuki to keep Brazil's overpowering attack at bay. Brazil, however, started to play the kind of football that saw them dominate the sport and win a record five World Cups.

Japan began to retreat into their shell, showing Brazil too much respect without ever making them wary of their transitional threat. In the very last minute, this came back to bite them as Bruno Guimarães squeezed in a super, deft pass (his fourth assist of the tournament) for Martinelli, who struck home the winning goal.

It was yet another heartbreaking defeat for Japan after their late collapse vs. Belgium in 2018 and their penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in 2022. But whilst Japan are still waiting on their first-ever knockout round win, Brazil find themselves three games away from their first World Cup Final since 2002.

There are still a number of concerns from Brazil, like their careless giveaways in midfield, their lack of quality at the fullback positions, as well as their vulnerability defending transitions. One narrow win vs. Japan doesn't change that.

But whilst they may not be favourites like Argentina or France, this Brazil team has proven that they have the quality and the mental fortitude to go far. With Vinícius Júnior and co. wreaking havoc in attack and the rest of their players starting to click on all cylinders, there's every reason to believe that Brazil can make it all the way and win a record-extending sixth World Cup.

Germany are in action against Paraguay this evening, both seeking a place in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

Die Mannschaft are usually staples of the knockout rounds but not since Mario Gotze's winner in Brazil back in 2014 have the Germans competed in knockout football at a World Cup.

Paraguay are their opponents this evening, looking to emulate their run to the quarter-finals in 2010. But, who are the commentators, pundits and presenters on the BBC's coverage?

BBC complete line-up of commentators, pundits and presenters for Germany vs Paraguay

Germany were beaten by Paraguay's South American neighbours in their final group game as Ecuador secured a famous 2-1 win.

Julian Nagelsmann's side have not been at their best since defeating World Cup minnows Curacao in their opening fixture at this tournament, which will give Paraguay hope of pulling off a famous upset.

The game starts at 9:30pm UK time. Coverage is being led by Gabby Logan.

An esteemed broadcaster, she is joined by Micah Richards, Lucas Leiva and Thomas Hitzlesperger in the studio.

In position at Boston Stadium are Guy Mowbray and Alan Shearer on commentary duties.

Former PGMOL match official Darren Cann is also providing his expert analysis of the officiating, whilst South American expert Tim Vickery is also on the BBC's coverage.

FourFourTwo’s free-to-play World Cup match predictor has reached Round 4 and we are pleased to confirm that the winner of Round 2 has been crowned. They took home the £1k pot exclusively, having successfully predicted 20 out of 24 results – a score no other players could match.

The deadline to play Round 4 is at 8pm on Wednesday evening, with the game is completely free to play, and very real cash to win.

Now we are into the knockout stages, the difficulty has gone up a notch. We want players to predict the nation they think will progress, PLUS (as a tie breaker) the total goals in normal time (extra-time and penalties not included) for eight Round of 32 games.

Play below for free!

We must thank our sponsors BOYLE Sports for providing the cash prize, which renews each round. Better still, BOYLE Sports give everyone who logs a set of predictions a free £5 bet simply for playing. All you need is a BOYLE Sports account – make sure you have your account number handy to enter when you make your predictions. The free bet will be credited within 48 hours of the deadline and valid to use for seven days.

Fancy getting in on the action? Round 4 is ready to play above, but closes at 8pm on Wednesday. After that, there are still four more rounds to play, so four more opportunities to win the £1,000 pot and four more £5 free bets to redeem.

Schedule and format

Matchday 1: Predict every nations' first game (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 2: Predict every nations' second game: (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 3: Predict every nations' third game: (win, lose or draw) CLOSED
Matchday 4: Predict the outcomes of the final eight Round of 32 games: (winner + amount of goals in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens) CLOSES 8pm WEDS
Matchday 5: Predict the outcomes of the final four Round of 16 games: (winner + amount of goals in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens)
Matchday 6: Predict the outcomes of the final three Quarter Final games: (winner + correct scoreline in 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens)
Matchday 7: Predict the correct scorelines of the two Semi Finals after 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens, with the minute of the first goal in the first Semi Final the tie breaker
Matchday 8: Predict the correct scorelines of the 3rd Place Playoff and World Cup Final after 90 minutes, plus added on time – not including extra-time or pens, with the minute of the first goal in the World Cup Final the tie breaker

Deadlines

Matchday 1: Closed

Matchday 2: Closed

Matchday 3: Closed

Matchday 4: Closes Weds 1 July, 8pm BST

Matchday 5: Closes Thurs 6 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 6: Closes Fri 10 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 7: Closes Tues 14 July, 7pm BST

Matchday 8: Closes Sat 18 July, 9pm BST

It ended in heartbreak. Japan failed to win a World Cup knock-out game for the first time, losing to Brazil in the sixth minute of stoppage time to go out at the round of 32 stage.

A habit of losing big matches from a position of strength is an unpleasant one for Samurai Blue, but the ongoing improvement continues in spite of the brutal manner of their World Cup 2026 exit.

In a squad with many bright players with big futures ahead of them, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki might be the biggest of all.

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Suzuki was beaten by Casemiro’s header in the second half but came up with a pair of sensational saves either side of Brazil’s equaliser. The second, which denied Vinicius Jr one of the best goals at the World Cup, was every bit as good as the goal would have been.

Gabriel Martinelli won it very late for Brazil but Suzuki’s story is just getting started.

So, who is Zion Suzuki and what should you know about him?

1. He was born in the state where the World Cup final will be played

Unlike the other 25 members of Japan’s squad, Suzuki was born outside Japan. He took his first breaths in Newark, New Jersey, the home of the three-time NHL champion New Jersey Devils.

Around 10 miles from The Rock is New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, where the World Cup final will be played on Sunday, July 19.

Suzuki’s family moved to the Japanese city of Saitama.

2. He has only played eight league matches in Japan

Suzuki was raised in the former Urawa sector of Saitama and learned the game in his new home town.

The 23-year-old turned professional with the local J.League club but played only eight times in J1 for Urawa Red Diamonds. He was loaned to the Belgian side Sint-Truiden and signed for Serie A outfit Parma in 2024.

His eight senior appearances for the Reds were split across two seasons and outnumbered by matches in Japan’s Levain Cup, the equivalent of the League Cup.

3. He is a Champions League winner

Despite not being a first-team regular at Urawa, Suzuki made four appearances in the AFC Champions League in 2022.

The Reds won the title for the third time and beat Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal over two legs in the final.

Suzuki didn’t feature in either of the final legs but received a medal and became a continental champion at 20 years of age.

4. He is Parma’s second Japanese player

When he joined the Gialloblu two years ago, Suzuki followed in the footsteps of arguably the greatest footballer ever exported by Japan.

Hidetoshi Nakata, now a sake entrepreneur and still impossibly stylish, signed for Parma from Roma in 2001.

Nakata went on to play for Bologna, Fiorentina and Bolton Wanderers, and played 77 times in a decade-long senior international career.

5. He can become Japan’s most-capped goalkeeper

Suzuki is bearing down on his 30th cap and doesn’t turn 24 until August. He could feasibly play for his country for another decade and that way records lie.

Japan’s most-capped goalkeeper is Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who played 116 times for Samurai Blue before hanging up his gloves in 2010.

If Suzuki is on track to catch up with the former Yokohama F. Marinos and Portsmouth stopper, the all-time caps record of Yasuhito Endo might just be out of reach at 152 – not least with 146-cap defender Yuto Nagatomo still playing at 39.

6. He doesn’t have any competition for the number one shirt

Suzuki is the most-capped goalkeeper by far in the Japanese World Cup squad.

Keisuke Osaka and Tomoki Hayakawa have 15 appearances between them. Both are older than Suzuki and played for J1 big-hitters in Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashima Antlers, the reigning champions.

There are almost no caps among the other goalkeepers called up by Hajime Moriyasu. Nagoya Grampus goalkeeper Alexandre Pisano, who has one cap at 20 years old, could still switch to Canada.

7. He could have played for the United States

An American citizen by birth, Suzuki was eligible to play for the United States at international level. Indeed, he was reportedly tracked by US Soccer, with the governing body keen to bring him in at youth levels.

Instead, he was a Japanese international by the under-15 stage and has continued to play for his mother’s country ever since.

Suzuki’s father is Ghanaian, making his son directly eligible for three national teams. There’s no obvious suggestion his intentions ever wavered.

8. He spent 15 years at Urawa Red Diamonds

Suzuki only played a handful of senior matches for Urawa but his association with the Reds was a long one.

He joined the club’s academy set-up at six years old and remained on the club’s books until 2024, when his permanent transfer to Emilia-Romagna was sealed.

He signed a five-year contract with the Italian club despite a previous agreement to stay with Sint-Truiden, where he was part of a succession of Japanese goalkeepers.

9. He only played 20 times in Serie A last season

He’s well established as Parma’s number one but 2025-26 wasn’t the season Suzuki would have wanted in the build-up to a major international tournament.

The goalkeeper fractured a bone in his hand while playing against AC Milan in November and missed four months of football. He featured in just 20 Serie A matches in what might have been his final season in Italy.

10. He could be on the move this summer

Suzuki’s name has been persistently linked with big European clubs in need of an upgrade or a refresh in the goalkeeper department. Chelsea and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in the last couple of years.

Now, it’s Aston Villa and Newcastle United who are reportedly keen to acquire his services.

After a World Cup that delivered a string of high-quality saves to advance his reputation, his agent’s phone might be ringing sooner rather than later.

Brazil's all-time leading goal scorer Neymar is hoping to make World Cup history.

The World Cup offers Neymar a chance to become only the fourth Brazil player to play in four editions of the tournament for his country and in direct succession.

Now 34, he is again plying his trade with boyhood club Santos after a whirlwind career since becoming the world's most expensive transfer in summer 2017.

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Will Neymar play for Brazil at World Cup 2026?

Neymar's renewed World Cup involvement raised eyebrows due to a three-year hiatus from international duty with Brazil as a result of persistent injury problems.

The winger burst onto the scene during the 2014 tournament in his homeland with four goals in five games before being stretchered off during the quarter-final stage.

He helped the Selecao to a further two last-eight appearances in the next eight years before eclipsing Pele's record as their leading all-time men's goal scorer.

However Neymar has struggled with fitness issues which made his inclusion by Carlo Ancelotti in Brazil's 26-man squad for the World Cup all the more surprising.

A calf issue prevented the former Barcelona man from any involvement in his country's opening two group games in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

He belatedly received a runout for Brazil's final Group C outing against Scotland in what was a first appearance on the international stage since October 2023.

However Neymar found himself restricted to a 15-minute cameo at Miami Stadium with his homeland already three goals to the good by that late stage of the game.

Neymar has already billed this World Cup as his 'Last Dance' on social media, confirming that he will not make history as Brazil's first-ever five-time participant.

He will hoping that final hurrah can help end a 24-year wait to be crowned world champions again.

Brazil's latest World Cup campaign appeared destined to bring controversy.

Neymar is back in Brazil's squad after a three-year absence, but while the world's most expensive player has yet to feature, another key omission is more pressing.

Endrick was also enlisted into the Selecao's World Cup campaign following a productive half-season spell with Lyon after a slow start to life with Real Madrid.

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The teenager's upturn in form flew in the face of a difficult six months at the Bernabeu during which new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso faltered spectacularly.

Endrick's first-team prospects for Los Blancos suffered heavily as the beleaguered World Cup winner restricted him to just four appearances in all competitions.

His temporary move to Ligue 1 proved a transformative one with eight goals and assists apiece in 21 outings for Lyon as they secured a Champions League return.

That purple patch saw Endrick rewarded with a spot in the Brazil squad for the March international friendlies and instantly repaid Carlo Ancelotti's faith.

Within 14 minutes of coming on against Croatia, the 19-year-old had a hand in two of goals; winning a penalty for Igor Thiago and teeing up Gabriel Martinelli.

But Endrick's Selecao prospects remain mired in increasing confusion under the man who presided over his daunting debut season in the Spanish capital.

He was overlooked for the pre-World Cup friendlies against Panama and Egypt before also missing out on his country's tournament opener with Morocco.

On each occasion, fans chanted for Endrick's introduction and were vindicated as his second-half cameo produced another goal to tip the balance gainst the Pharaohs.

A second substitute appearance in the 3-0 win over Haiti did little to sate Brazilians' appetite to see their latest rising star with Ancelotti firmly under the microscope.

The Italian has damned Endrick with faint praise by descripting him as 'an extraordinary talent' while also shutting down the debate over a starring role.

His reluctance to utilise his former Madrid player has become meme material on Brazilian social media with the pair cast as polar opposites in comical scenarios.

Ancelotti is notorious for attempting to harness his tactical system to players' strengths and clearly feels Endrick is most impactful from the substitutes' bench.

It's a credible theory but until the teen sensation is able to prove him wrong from a starting berth, the debate - and the memes - will continue to rumble on.

World Cup 2026 is now into its knock-out matches. The stakes are high in every single game and referees will be under pressure just as much as the players charged with carrying their nations through from one round to the next.

There were a handful of suspensions in the group stage, all of them for players who received red cards in the previous fixtures.

World Cup rules mean that red cards carry a mandatory and immediate suspension of one match regardless of whether the player in question received a straight red card or committed two bookable offences.

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Is there a yellow card amnesty at the World Cup?

Very serious incidents can be further punished with extended bans. Assim Madibo of Qatar, since eliminated, had his suspension extended to five matches after the challenge that injured Ismael Kone of Canada in their second match of the group stage.

That ended his tournament and would have had the same outcome unless Qatar had reached the final. Typically, changes in suspension rules at major tournaments are designed to avoid excessive punishment when it comes to the biggest games.

The third way to attract a one-match suspension is by collecting two yellow cards in two different matches. Again, this results in a one-match ban.

There’s no mechanical change in how red card or yellow card suspensions are handled during the knock-out rounds. Like the group stage, a red card or the accumulation of two yellow cards will earn a player a one-match suspension for the next round.

However, over the years, measures have been taken to stop players missing important and career-defining matches because of two yellow cards across a tournament that now amounts to seven matches before the final.

The most infamous example of how this used to work occurred in 1990, when England midfielder Paul Gascoigne was yellow-carded in the semi-final against West Germany. He knew at that moment that he would be suspended for the final if England progressed. They didn’t, but the image of Gazza’s tears became a football icon in its own right.

That can no longer happen. Yellow cards are wiped between the quarter-finals and semi-finals; the only way to miss the final through suspension is to get sent off in the semi-final.

Because the World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams and an extra round has been brought in to accommodate the additional 16, there are now two amnesties during the competition.

Yellow cards were wiped for the first time at the end of the group stage.

Brazil midfielder Casemiro, booked in the opening Group C fixture against Morocco, would therefore not be subject to a last-16 suspension as a result of his yellow card against Japan in the first half of their round of 32 match.

Germany and Paraguay meet in the World Cup 2026 round of 32, as Boston's Gillette Stadium welcomes the 2014 World Cup winners as they take on the defence-first Albirroja, who finished third in Group D.

Germany and Paraguay have met once before at the World Cup, back in in 2002. Oliver Neuville scored the only goal in the first knockout round, in South Korea. The only other encounter came in 2013, when current Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer played in a 3-3 draw in Kaiserslautern.

Recently un-retired Neuer was poor in Die Mannschaft's final group game, a 2-1 loss to Ecuador, in which Germany were already through.

This one matters. The prize of an Independence Day encounter with France or Sweden awaits the winner.

Read on as FourFourTwo brings you all the information you need to watch Germany vs Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, on TV, and from anywhere.

Watch Germany vs Paraguay for FREE

Germany vs Paraguay will be free-to-stream across multiple regions, including BBC in the UK, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF/VRT in Belgium, SRF/RTS/RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey.

English commentary will be provided on BBC, RTE Player and SBS On Demand.

‼️ Outside one of these countries? Use Norton VPN to unlock your stream from anywhere in the world — more on that below.

Watch Germany vs Paraguay from anywhere

Away from home this summer and want to watch Germany vs Paraguay? All you need is a VPN, a handy piece of software that makes your devices appear to be in a different location.

This World Cup, our office friends at TechRadar are recommending Norton VPN:

How to watch Germany vs Paraguay in the UK

In the UK, you can stream Germany vs Paraguay on BBC. The build-up starts at 9:00pm BST, ahead of the kick-off at 9.30pm BST.

How to watch Germany vs Paraguay in the US

In the US, you can stream Germany vs Paraguay on Fox.

This channel is accessible via Fox's own streaming platform Fox One or via a cord-cutting platform such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling (select markets), Fubo or DirecTV.

How to watch Germany vs Paraguay in Australia

In Australia, you can watch Germany vs Paraguay on the free SBS On Demand.

Germany vs Paraguay: World Cup 2026 Preview

Paraguay's path to the round of 32 was anything but smooth. The Albirroja were relatively comfortable CONMEBOL qualifiers but got a kicking in their opener against the United States. Miguel Almiron's controversial booking set the tone for a strange tournament.

The former Newcastle forward was yellow-carded after a very dubious use of 'mistaken identity' in the first game. In the second, he became the first footballer to be sent off for covering his mouth during a verbal confrontation with an opponent.

Paraguay already had the lead against Turkey that day. Ultimately, their ability to hold on to that 1-0 advantage is what took them through in third place with four points.

Germany are favourites despite the loss against Ecuador and it's not even close. The pressure, the expectations, are squarely focused on Julian Nagelsmann's men.

Their predecessors are four-time World Cup winners but the current generation certainly have plenty left to prove after going out in the group stage in each of the past two tournaments.

With a pair of disappointing European Championships under their belts in 2021 and 2024, the Germans know that knocking Paraguay out of the World Cup must be just the start of their achievements this summer.

Nobody will be more aware of that reality than their opponents.

Team News

Germany XI: Manuel Neuer (GK); Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Jonathan Tah, Nathaniel Brown; Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic; Leroy Sane, Deniz Undav, Florian Wirtz; Kai Havertz

Nagelsmann has rewarded Undav for his fine start to the World Cup after a prolific season in the Bundesliga. Brown gets the nod at left-back.

Paraguay XI: Orlando Gill (GK); Juan Caceres, Gustavo Gomez, Jose Canale, Junior Alonso; Miguel Almiron, Damian Bobadilla, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza; Gabriel Avalos, Julio Enciso

Almiron returns to the starting line-up after suspension, while Alonso and Canale come into the 11. Gustavo Velazquez, Alexandro Maidana and Omar Alderete drop to the bench. Diego Gomez is suspended.

FourFourTwo's prediction

Germany 2-0 Paraguay

FourFourTwo predicts a round of 32 match in Boston that goes with the FIFA World Rankings in relatively unfussy fashion.

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Harry Kane has been an extraordinary success at Bayern Munich since he signed for the Bundesliga giants three seasons ago.

The England captain moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Bavaria in 2023 and has shaken off the idea that trophies might elude him for the entirety of his career despite being one of the world’s most dangerous strikers.

Kane has been the top scorer in each of his three seasons in Germany, firing Bayern back to the title in 2024-25 and 2025-26.

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Barcelona want Kane to follow in Lewandowski’s footsteps

Far from soaking up a last big contract on the continent and gradually losing his edge, Kane has attracted the attention of another of Europe’s very biggest clubs with his phenomenal goalscoring record in the Bundesliga.

At 32, the Londoner has been the subject of reported interest from Barcelona. The Spanish champions have made a success of signing veteran strikers who’ve kept on banging in the goals far beyond Kane’s age.

The most noteworthy example is Robert Lewandowski, signed from Bayern in 2014, who is leaving Barcelona at the end of his contract at the age of 37 to sign with Chicago Fire in MLS. That’s an impressive blueprint but fresh reports indicate that the Allianz Arena is to remain Kane’s home for some time yet.

Kane’s contract expires next summer but he’s staying put, according to The Athletic: “The former Tottenham Hotspur striker is keen to remain in Germany despite Barcelona’s enquiry, and the Catalan club have been informed that he is happy in Munich.

“Kane had the option to activate a release clause in his contract this summer, though he would have had to inform Bayern of the decision in January, which he opted against.

“Bayern’s board member for sport, Max Eberl, said in January that they were in discussions with Kane over a new deal.”

Kane, who has scored three times in the United States this month to become England’s record goalscorer in World Cup matches. He captained Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions to victories against Croatia and Panama in a modest group stage campaign, ensuring that they finished top of Group L.

The 32-year-old has scored at a tremendous rate in Germany. He has scored 98 goals in just 94 Bundesliga matches and 146 in all competitions.

Kane is also closing in on 100 international goals. He has scored 82 times in 117 games in his 11-year England career and would become the first English footballer to reach a century.

He’s in the chase for a second World Cup Golden Boot but already three goals behind Lionel Messi’s six, the same number Kane scored in total when he collected the award when England reached the semi-finals of World Cup 2018.

England’s next opponents will be DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia on Wednesday.

The route to the World Cup final is officially mapped out in the knockout stage.

Germany and Paraguay meet in one of the World Cup's more intriguing round-of-32 clashes when they do battle at Foxborough's Boston Stadium on Monday evening.

A last-16 spot against the winner from France and Sweden's showdown awaits either Die Mannschaft or Los Guaraníes - but who will be going through?

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Germany vs Paraguay prediction

Julian Nagelsmann's side appeared all set for a perfect Group E campaign after a back-to-back wins over Curacao and Ivory Coast but were stunned by Ecuador.

Paraguay, meanwhile, benefited from the World Cup's new third-place qualification rankling by taking a solitary point in their Group D schedule against Australia.

Germany's recent history at the tournament has been less than inspiring with successive group stage exits breaking a 64-year run in the knockout rounds.

In contrast, Gustavo Alfaro's side have reached the knockouts in three of their past four appearances at the World Cup despite exiting at the round-of-16 each time.

But history bodes well for the four-time champions after their previous competitive meeting with Paraguay coming in the 2002 edition where they reached the final.

As one of the early favourites, the odds continue to favour Germany to progress with a squad brimming with quality and a surprise package in super sub Deniz Undav.

The Stuttgart forward's three goals off the bench averages out at one every 50 minutes and 47 seconds, putting him ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

We're backing Undav to have the last laugh again as Germany's team of pure talent is set to overpower Paraguay for a second time in their World Cup history.

Score prediction: Germany 3-0 Paraguay

The last of four World Cup 2026 matches to be played at Monterrey Stadium has already arrived, and it's a blockbuster round of 32 tie between the Netherlands and Morocco.

Both of these teams were among the last eight at the World Cup four years ago, and it was Morocco that went one better to become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.

Despite their slightly sketchy World Cup performances at the World Cup since the turn of the century, the free-scoring nature of the Netherlands in the group stage this year has put Morocco on notice.

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Netherlands vs Monterrey betting odds from BOYLE Sports

• Netherlands WIN - 6/5
• Draw - 21/10
• Morocco WIN - 23/10

Netherlands vs Morocco prediction

The Dutch have made a fine start to the tournament. They twice squandered a lead in their opener against Japan but went on to put five past Sweden and three past Tunisia to finish at the top of Group F.

Morocco also drew their first game against Brazil, beating Scotland and Haiti to sail through to the knock-out stages in second place. They were behind against Haiti in what was in the end a 4-2 win; the AFCON finalists scored first against Brazil.

We can be sure Ronald Koeman and the Netherlands are very aware of the early goal-scoring exploits of Ismael Saibari in Morocco's first two games, but they'll back themselves to have the attacking weaponry to overcome whatever the North African side throws at them.

They scored 10 goals in the group stage and have several forward players who've found their shooting boots. Cody Gakpo scored twice against Sweden, Crysencio Summerville once each against Japan and Sweden.

But it's Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey who's leading the charge with three goals in the Oranje's last two games.

That's the size of the defensive challenge facing Mohamed Ouahbi's team. Their only clean sheet in the group stage was against a Scotland side that didn't muster a single shot on target.

The Moroccan back line will be put to the test in Monterrey. They have the ability, going forward as a team – especially on the counterattack – to hurt the Dutch, but they might need to do so more than once to outgun them.

Score prediction: Netherlands 3-2 Morocco

The only previous competitive meeting between these teams was a 2-1 win for the Netherlands in the group stage of the World Cup in 1994, the last time the tournament was hosted in the United States.

Indeed, every match between the Netherlands and Morocco has ended 2-1 one way or another. This time around, in a World Cup that's been full of goals, there could easily be one or two more than that.

How to watch Netherlands vs Morocco

You can watch Netherlands vs Morocco in the last 32 of World Cup 2026 for free. All the information you need is in our how to watch guide.

The match will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, Fox in the United States and SBS in Australia.

What's your Netherlands vs Morocco prediction? Let us know below...

While all eyes are on the World Cup as the knockout stages get underway, Premier League clubs are hard at work behind the scenes as preparations for the new season continue.

Manchester United enjoyed the best season since the 2022/23 campaign with a third-placed finish and quickly moved to hand Michael Carrick the reins on a permanent basis following his successful stint as interim boss in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s sacking in January.

Carrick will now work with the club to build a squad in his image, with the benefit of being able to offer prospective new faces Champions League football.

Manchester United linked with former City prospect

One of the latest players to be linked with a move to Old Trafford is a player who knows Manchester very well, in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha.

That’s because the 25-year-old was a product of the Manchester City academy, having come up through the ranks at the club and making three senior appearances in cup competition before his release in 2021.

He would then make the move to Wolfsburg, where he would spend two seasons before signing for Borussia Dortmund, where he has established himself as a Germany international and put in a string of performances that have caught the eye of a number of Premier League sides.

Manchester United are one of these teams, with the club’s head of scouting Christoper Vivell having recently reportedly been in contact with the player, who is currently away with Germany’s World Cup squad.

The latest reports from Germany claim that Newcastle United have now joined the chase for Nmecha, with Eddie Howe’s side seeing him as a potential replacement for Bruno Guimarães, whose Magpies future has appeared uncertain in recent months.

With Nmecha’s former side Manchester City also said to be monitoring the situation, German outlet Bild have an update on where the player himself would prefer to go, and it’s not good news for Newcastle.

The report claims that Nmecha would find a move to either of the Manchester clubs more attractive than heading to the north east. While the reasons for this preference are not specified, the Magpies would not be able to offer European football, while the two Manchester sides will both be playing in the Champions League next season.

It’s not just Premier League sides are being linked with the Hamburg-born star who is valued at €50million by Transfermarkt, as Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have both been mentioned in dispatches.

In FourFourTwo’s view, despite Manchester United having already struck a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson, the injury sustained by Manuel Ugarte at the World Cup may well bring a change in plan, depending on the severity, as the club could be left short in the middle.

However, it is Nmecha’s contract - which runs until 2030 - that puts the ball into Dortmund’s court, when it comes to the future of the midfielder.

Brazil's bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup title reaches the knockout stages on Monday evening.

Carlo Ancelotti's side topped Group C, ahead of 2022 semi-finalists Morocco and will be pitted against a Japan side who finished as runners-up behind the Netherlands in Group F.

This will be the 14th meeting between the two sides, with Japan having claimed just a single victory over the Selecao, which came when the teams met last October.

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ITV's complete line-up of commentators, pundits and presenters for Brazil vs Japan

The match kicked off at 6pm UK time, with live coverage available on ITV1 and online at ITVX. Mark Pougatch will be at the helm in the ITV studio, where he is joined by a heavyweigh panel of pundits: Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira, who have kissed and made up since their high-profile on pitch clashes in the late 90s, and Ange Postecoglou who managed in Japan successfully for a number of years.

ITV's lead commentator Sam Matterface will be up on the gantry at the NRG Stadium in Houston, which usually houses the NFL's Houston Texans.

Matterface will be joined by his usual partner-in-crime for this one, as former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon will be on co-commentary duties.

The winners of this tie will face the victors of Tuesday night's Ivory Coast vs Norway match in the last-16 on Sunday evening.

Germany vs Paraguay will be refereed by Jalal Jayed, of Morocco.

The round-of-32 began with co-hosts Canada leaving it late to beat South Africa with an injury-time winner on Sunday night, with Brazil and Japan set to lock horns in Monday's early game.

It's then over to Boston, where the Germans will - somewhat remarkably - be bidding to win their first World Cup knockout game since they triumphed in the 2014 final in Brazil.

Referee confirmed for Germany vs Paraguay

Despite a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in their final Group E match, the Germans were able to top the group thanks to their 7-1 steamrolling of Curacao and a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast.

Paraguay booked their place in the knockouts following a goalless draw with Australia, which sealed third place in Group D following an opening 4-1 defeat to the United States and a 1-0 victory over Turkey.

The referee for this clash will be Jalal Jayed.

This will be the Moroccan whistle-man's third match of the tournament, which began with Germany's aforementioned 7-1 victory over Curaçao, before he was in charge for Portugal's 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan.

And while the goals have flowed during Jayed's two matches so far, the cards haven't, as the 39-year-old has only had to put his hand in his pocket twice, when he issued yellow cards for Uzbekistan's Odildzhon Khamrobekov and Portugal's Renato Veiga.

Jayad will be joined by his countrymen Zakaria Brinsi and Mostafa Akarkad as assistant referees.

China's Ming Na will be on fourth official duties, with Fei Zhou serving as the reserve official.

The VAR crew will be led by Tatiana Guzmán of Nicaragua, with Hamza El-Fariq of Morocco as the assistant VAR and Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Alshehri as the support VAR.