2026 World Cup: England vs Mexico, France vs Paraguay Among Confirmed Round of 16 Clashes

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 stage is beginning to take shape, with four exciting knockout fixtures confirmed after England secured qualification with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo on Wednesday.

The Three Lions needed a strong comeback performance after falling behind, but Harry Kane’s brace inspired Thomas Tuchel’s side to eliminate the Leopards and book a place in the next round.

England will now face co-hosts Mexico, who reached the last 16 after defeating Ecuador 2-0 in their previous knockout match.

Other confirmed Round of 16 fixtures include a heavyweight clash between France and Paraguay, while Norway will battle Brazil in another highly anticipated encounter.

African representatives Morocco will also continue their impressive World Cup campaign when they face co-hosts Canada, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.

Opinion:
The Round of 16 is where the World Cup truly begins to separate the contenders from the hopefuls. England’s ability to recover against DR Congo shows their mentality, but facing Mexico will present a different challenge against a team comfortable on home soil.

For Morocco, the match against Canada represents another opportunity to continue rewriting their tournament story. The knockout stage is about small moments, and the teams that handle pressure best will move closer to lifting the trophy.