Norway Join Canada, Morocco, Paraguay And Brazil In World Cup Round Of 16

The list of teams advancing to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 is beginning to take shape, with at least five countries now confirming their places in the knockout stage.

Norway became the latest side to secure qualification after defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in their Round of 32 encounter on Tuesday.

The Scandinavian side produced a strong performance, with Antonio Nusa opening the scoring before Erling Haaland added another goal to put Norway in control. Côte d’Ivoire fought back through Amad Diallo, but the Elephants could not find the equaliser needed to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Norway’s victory means they join Canada, Morocco, Paraguay and Brazil as the first teams to reach the Round of 16.

The knockout stage will officially begin on Saturday, with Canada set to face Morocco in one of the opening last-16 fixtures.

The early qualification picture already suggests an exciting second phase of the tournament. While traditional heavyweights like Brazil continue to show their strength, teams such as Norway, Canada and Morocco are proving that the World Cup is becoming increasingly competitive, with emerging nations refusing to be treated as outsiders.

As more Round of 32 matches unfold, the battle for the remaining spots promises more surprises, drama, and potentially more historic moments.