Egypt

Barcelona's Hamza Abdelkarim has etched his name into World Cup history, becoming the first player from the club's youth ranks to feature in a knockout stage match without a senior appearance. His milestone arrived during Egypt's dramatic Round-of-32 victory over Australia.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters the Round of 16, France has solidified its position as the clear favorite to lift the trophy, with Argentina emerging as its strongest challenger. The tournament's expanded format has set the stage for a compelling knockout phase.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has delivered a scathing assessment of Belgium's performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, criticizing their lack of goals and uninspired play following a goalless draw against Iran.