Big names, dark horses and subplots - reasons to watch each last 32 tie
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has moved into the knockout stage with 32 teams remaining. The article previews the upcoming matches, highlighting key rivalries and the performance of major stars like Mbappe, Messi, and Haaland.
Why it matters
The World Cup is a major global sporting event with significant cultural and economic impact on host nations and participating countries.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Kylian Mbappe (4), Lionel Messi (6) and Erling Haaland (4) have scored 14 goals between them at the 2026 World Cup
The content is a standard sports preview focusing on tournament progression and match-ups.
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