FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32: Records, upsets and other defining moments
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has expanded to 48 teams, introducing a new Round of 32 in the knockout stages. The tournament has seen notable upsets, including Germany's exit, and an intense race for the Golden Boot between stars like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Why it matters
The expansion of the World Cup format significantly changes the tournament's competitive landscape and commercial scale, impacting global sports viewership.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been an extended affair as the football body increased the number of teams from 32 in 2022 to 48 from this edition onward. This has also resulted in the addition of a Round of 32 to the knockout stages for the first time. Although most of the results were as expected, the matches were thrilling for both neutral watchers and fans. As the Round of 32 comes to an end with Colombia’s 1-0 win over Ghana , here we look at the major talking points from this round.
The article is a standard sports recap focusing on match results and player statistics.
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