Note: This story first appeared in The Beautiful Game by NCS Sports, our day by day e-newsletter on all issues World Cup. To subscribe, click here.
Wow.
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Wow! If you missed last night’s match between Argentina and Cape Verde, go proper now and watch the whole factor on demand or, at the very least, watch the prolonged highlights as a result of that was for the ages.
The recreation was Exhibit A of why soccer is the best sport in the world (in most individuals’s opinions round the world, together with mine and Ben’s): storylines aplenty, superstars performing, heroes rising up, rollercoaster feelings, the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Through all of it, on a evening going through the defending world champion with arguably the best participant ever on its roster, the Blue Sharks confirmed the world that they belonged and made a complete continent proud by taking mighty Argentina right down to the wire.
The Beautiful Game isn’t simply the title of this text, it’s what soccer is. Popularized by the nice Pelé, who known as it “Jogo Bonito,” final evening’s occasions in Miami completely encapsulated what it’s all about and why the World Cup is so magical. But as we’re all so eminently conscious, time marches on, turning fairytale journeys into heartbreaking “almosts” and eventually into legendary tales to be handed on to new generations.
While right now will battle to dwell as much as what occurred at Hard Rock Stadium (allow us to not neglect that Egypt and Colombia additionally received their video games yesterday), it marks the begin of the Round of 16, the place much more desires will proceed and we’ll witness much more drama.
Co-host Canada is bidding to make extra historical past right now because it faces Morocco in the first last-16 conflict, however the African aspect is one of the darkish horses for the competitors after constructing on that magical World Cup run almost 4 years in the past in Qatar.
We’ll begin there right now.
The Main Thing: Morocco is out to show that its 2022 fairytale run was no one-off
By NCS’s Aleks Klosok
What do you do if you’ve already made historical past? Answer: You look to make extra of it.
In 2022, Morocco went the place no group from Africa had ever gone earlier than – turning into the first Arab and African nation to succeed in the semifinals of a World Cup.
If its heroic exploits in Qatar marked a soccer revolution that upended all expectations, 2026 in North America is about accelerated evolution – a step nearer to reaching the final prize in the recreation and a historic first for the continent: World Cup glory.
You solely have to have a look at the nation’s protagonists of 2026 to sense the route of journey.
2022 stalwarts Romain Saïss, Hakim Ziyech and coach Walid Regragui have exited stage left, giving solution to a new era of Atlas Lions.
Talismanic figures in captain Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stay, but it surely’s a group sprinkled with thrilling, younger world-class expertise – many of whom have benefited from elite European academies with their mother and father having left North Africa.
Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille and ahead Ismael Saibari are already breakout stars at this event. Bouaddi is attracting curiosity from a host of elite European golf equipment and Saibari has joined German big Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven.
And then there’s coach Mohamed Ouahbi – solely appointed in March this yr however who had been effectively established inside the nationwide group set-up – who has rapidly made his stylistic mark.
Solidity has given solution to fluidity. Possession is king. Risk taking is now the modus operandi.
Morocco has already gone toe-to-toe with Brazil in the group levels and triumphed over the Netherlands in the Round of 32, however larger fish are there to be fried.
Dispatch co-host Canada in the Round of 16 right now and a potential tantalizing shot at juggernaut France awaits. Overcome Didier Deschamps’ aspect on July 9 – a tall order at the second given how good Les Bleus look – and heads will probably be spinning at the potentialities that would await.
And if progress doesn’t come now – with Morocco set to be one of the co-hosts for the subsequent 2030 World Cup and a continued, concerted effort to put money into the nation’s youth soccer packages in place – the temper music factors to lots of optimistic momentum, with a potential redrawing of the world soccer energy map to come back.
When? 1 p.m. ET
Where? Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium), Houston, Texas, USA
By NCS’s Emile Nuh
It has already been a World Cup of firsts for co-host Canada.
A draw in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina in its opener earned the nation its first level at the event, a 6-0 thrashing of nine-man Qatar gave Les Rouges a first World Cup win and – regardless of a 2-1 loss to Group B champion Switzerland in its remaining group recreation – 4 factors had been sufficient to safe a runner-up spot that noticed the co-host advance to the knockout rounds for the very first time.
Canada’s historic World Cup run continued into the spherical of 32, as Stephen Eustáquio’s gorgeous 92nd-minute strike from the edge of the field secured a last-gasp 1-0 victory over South Africa and a maiden spherical of 16 berth. The group is effectively and actually in unchartered territory and can enter this recreation feeling it has nothing to lose.
In distinction, having been a 2022 World Cup semifinalist, Morocco would have anticipated to be right here.
The Atlas Lions impressed of their opening 1-1 draw in opposition to Brazil, and completed as Group C runner-up behind the five-time champion on purpose distinction after successive wins in opposition to Haiti and Scotland.
They on the brink of elimination in opposition to the Netherlands when Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo put the Oranje forward with beneath 20 minutes remaining, however Issa Diop’s important header in harm time stored Morocco alive, with the African nation occurring to advance after a dramatic penalty shootout.
The Atlas Lions will undoubtedly be favored, however Canada will probably be boosted by the return of its captain and greatest participant: Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies. A quarterfinal conflict on Thursday in opposition to Paraguay or event favourite France in Foxborough’s Gillette Stadium awaits the winner.
The phrases of Cape Verde center-back Pico Lopes after his nation’s heroic effort in opposition to the grandest of soccer Goliaths, Argentina.
The Blue Sharks have received the hearts of each soccer fan round the world with their journey at the 2026 World Cup. An astounding draw in opposition to Spain (Note from Spaniard Patrick: I didn’t have a lot of fun while watching it…), a defiant tie in opposition to Uruguay and development to the knockouts had been already one thing that everybody round the planet was proud of, however the efficiency final evening in opposition to the Albiceleste was like watching the film, “300” – a small band of succesful males in opposition to unimaginable odds. Much like the film, they didn’t occur to tug it off, however what they did will go down in historical past.
Cape Verde supervisor Bubista summed it up greatest: “I feel proud to have competed against some of the best teams in the world. We are a small nation, but we have shown that we can face any team and go toe to toe. Being our first time in the World Cup, we feel extremely proud of what we have accomplished in this tournament.”
It’s nearly been 72 hours, however the sting of the purple card proven to United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) attacking star Folarin Balogun hasn’t numbed a bit. Our NCS Sports colleague Don Riddell seemed into how, regardless of the striker lacking the match in opposition to Belgium, the controversial resolution may inadvertently unite the USMNT and the nation in its quest for World Cup glory.
Will a controversial purple card unite a nation?
NCS’s Don Riddell reviews on how a controversial purple card might inadvertently unify the US males’s soccer group and the nation.
When? 5 p.m. ET
Where? Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
By NCS’s Emile Nuh
Paraguay must be applauded for simply getting so far.
It entered the World Cup after a 16-year hiatus – final showing at South Africa 2010 – however managed to progress from a difficult Group D that included co-host United States, a gifted Turkey aspect and a resurgent Australia.
La Albirroja then pulled off a monumental upset to knock out four-time champion Germany in the Round of 32, as they received a thrilling penalty shootout after the groups performed out a hard-fought 1-1 draw following 120+ minutes.
However, there’s arguably no matchup at the moment extra daunting than a recreation in opposition to this formidable France aspect.
Les Bleus have been the standout group at the World Cup and look to be on a mission to make amends for his or her heartbreaking defeat on penalties in the 2022 remaining.
The two-time champion breezed by means of Group I after which Sweden in the Round of 32, successful all of its video games and notching up a staggering 13 targets in the event to date – the most of any side.
Kylian Mbappé’s six targets have him one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, whereas Michael Olise’s 5 assists at the moment have him as the event’s main playmaker.
Even if Paraguay manages to maintain each quiet, it might open up area for Ousmane Dembélé to flourish – the present Ballon d’Or holder already has 4 targets and two assists to his title.
It’s protected to presume there will probably be a few targets on this one, with the winner advancing to play both co-host Canada or 2022 semifinalist Morocco on Thursday in Massachusetts.
After 23 days of motion at this World Cup (we’ve nonetheless acquired 16 days left, don’t fear), it’s protected to say that one of the prevailing storylines has been the efficiency of the underdogs.
King amongst these has been Cape Verde, with its heroic, defiant, gritty journey to the knockouts almost paying off as the Tubarões Azuis nearly produced one of the best upsets in sports activities historical past in opposition to defending World Cup champion Argentina.
But there have been lots of different small nations both offering shocks or bringing pleasure to the plenty that make the World Cup the best spectacle in sports activities.
Praise be to Paraguay because it survived a 4-1 humbling at the fingers of the USA earlier than eking into the knockouts and gorgeous four-time World Cup champion Germany in the Round of 32. Buena suerte contra Francia (Good luck in opposition to France).
World No. 59 Qatar earned its first-ever World Cup level in the 94th minute of its match in opposition to Switzerland, a group which has simply received a place in the Round of 16. The feat sparked scenes of jubilation in Doha, which our colleague Matias Grez was fortunate sufficient to expertise.
DR Congo drew with mighty Portugal and made it to the Round of 32, the place Les Léopards almost shocked England. World No. 82 Curaçao (who introduced some of the best kits to the World Cup) drew with Ecuador, which completed second in South American qualifying and made it to the Round of 32. World Cup minnow Haiti took a 2-1 lead in opposition to a sturdy wanting Morocco, scoring one of the targets of the event in the course of and bringing pleasure to numerous Haitian followers.
All of this to say that the proponents of the expanded World Cup – chief amongst these is FIFA itself – have been gifted a lot of proof that their resolution to convey 48 groups to North America was the proper one.
While we could have seen some video games that had been actually lopsided, I can guarantee you that it wasn’t something that hadn’t been seen earlier than (Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0 in the group levels of the final World Cup). Also, the pleasure that the competitors has dropped at 16 extra international locations, which wouldn’t have skilled it this time round, is one thing actually in the resolution’s favor.
Finally – and fairly selfishly – it provides us a lot extra video games to observe, and I believe that’s one thing we are able to all agree is a good factor.