World Cup today: Mbappé's France and 3 others begin last 16 | OneFootball

Two matches mark the start of the World Cup Round of 16 this Saturday (04)

The 2026 World Cup reaches a crucial stage with the start of the Round of 16 this Saturday (04). Four national teams take the field aiming to keep the dream of winning the world title alive.

First, Canada faces Morocco after a hard-fought campaign. Meanwhile, Paraguay will test itself against traditional powerhouse France in matchups that will determine the next steps in the tournament.

WHAT ARE THIS SATURDAY’S MATCHES AND WHERE TO WATCH?

WHAT IS THE EXPECTATION FOR THE CANADA VS MOROCCO CLASH?

NRG Stadium in Houston hosts the showdown between Canada and Morocco starting at 2:00 p.m. (Brasília time). The Canadians arrive boosted by a historic qualification after beating South Africa 1-0, with a goal from Eustáquio in stoppage time.

This edition marks a new level for Canadian soccer, which recorded the country's first-ever World Cup win in the group stage with a 6-0 rout of Qatar.

On the other side, Morocco comes in with high confidence after knocking out the Netherlands. The 1-1 draw in regular time demanded cool heads in the penalty shootout, which they won 3-2. Morocco’s qualification highlighted the composure of goalkeeper Bounou, who made a peculiar save, futsal-style, by staying on his feet to cover more space in the goal.

HOW DO PARAGUAY AND FRANCE ARRIVE FOR THE MATCH?

The 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time) clash in Philadelphia pits Paraguay, responsible for Germany’s elimination, against powerful France. The Paraguayans beat the Germans after a 1-1 draw and a standout performance from goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who saved two penalties in the shootout.

France, meanwhile, is moving forward at full strength. The 3-0 win over Sweden in the previous round reinforced the Europeans’ status as favorites. The ten goals scored in the first stage of the tournament recall the performance of France’s historic 1958 generation. The team led by Didier Deschamps shows attacking firepower capable of putting Paraguay’s defensive resistance to the test. A place in the quarterfinals depends on flawless execution on the field.

HOW DOES THE ROUND OF 16 FORMAT WORK?

The knockout matches require extra focus from the teams. If the score is level at the end of regular time, the match goes to thirty minutes of extra time.

If the tie remains after extra time, the decision is made in a penalty shootout. It is worth remembering that the winner of Canada vs Morocco secures a place in the quarterfinals, where they will face whoever comes out on top in the clash between Paraguay and France.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.