Ongoing World Cup football lost some of its lustre after Brazil, almost synonymous with the “beautiful game” lost to a unfancied Norway. Has Brazil become a combination of erstwhile giants?

Enzo Fernandez scored in stoppage time to give Argentina an incredible 3-2 win over Egypt and a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

A dramatic last-minute goal broke Portuguese hearts in Texas. Substitute Mikel Merino scored a clever goal in the 91st minute to give Spain a hard-fought 1-0 win over rival Portugal, sending Spain to the World Cup quarterfinals and ending Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup run.

In an absolute classic defined by tactical resilience and chaotic swings of momentum, England advanced to the Quarter-Finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Playing in front of a deafening, hostile crowd of over 80,000 fans at the iconic Estadio Azteca—where El Tri boasted a historic 10-match unbeaten tournament record—Gareth Southgate’s men established dominance late in the first half. Real Madrid virtuoso Jude Bellingham stunned the arena by netting two goals just 98 seconds apart, opening his account with a commanding 36th-minute header before instantly clinical finishing a Harry Kane assist. Mexico retaliated before the break through Julián Quiñones, and the fixture completely flipped on its head in the 54th minute when English center-back Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge. Despite operating at a numerical disadvantage, the Three Lions extended their cushion when Kane calmly converted a penalty drawn by a rash Raul Rangel challenge—marking his 14th career World Cup goal to match German legend Gerd Müller. In a historic statistical quirk, Kane subsequently conceded a penalty at the other end, which Raúl Jiménez buried with a stutter-step finish. Jordan Pickford and a fractured defensive line successfully absorbed 32 minutes of relentless Mexican overloads, breaking El Tri’s hearts and setting up a monumental showdown against Erling Haaland’s high-flying Norway this Saturday in Miami.

In a seismic upset that fundamentally alters the landscape of international football, Norway staged an extraordinary defensive masterclass to dump five-time world champions Brazil out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a breathtaking 2-1 Round of 16 victory. Playing under the blinding lights of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Monday, July 6, 2026, the heavily favored Seleção paid a devastating price for squandering early tactical dominance. Brazil was thrown a golden liferaft in the first half following a VAR-dictated penalty review, but Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland anticipated perfectly, executing a spectacular diving save to deny Bruno Guimarães from the spot. Anchored by that defensive resilience, Ståle Solbakken’s disciplined squad methodically executed swift transition play in the second half. Supersub Andreas Schjelderup turned into the architect of Brazilian heartbreak, first carving open the defense in the 79th minute with a floating cross that Erling Haaland powerfully headed past Alisson Becker, before assisting the clinical Manchester City striker again in the 90th minute for a decisive tap-in. While a late VAR penalty allowed a devastated Neymar to score in the 100th minute, the final whistle immediately prompted emotional scenes as the icon broke down in tears, formally announcing his immediate retirement from international football and drawing a poignant curtain on his 16-year journey as Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.

A dramatic 94th-minute header from super-sub Gonçalo Ramos propelled Portugal into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, sealing a breathtaking 2-1 comeback victory over Croatia at the Toronto Stadium. The high-stakes European blockbuster ended in absolute frenzy and VAR controversy, signaling a heartbreaking curtain call for Croatian legend Luka Modrić on the world stage.