Published: July 5, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Sunday brings a double-header to remember in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Five-time champions Brazil face a Norway side riding the Erling Haaland wave, while England travel to Mexico City to take on co-hosts Mexico in front of a crowd that hasn’t seen their team lose there in over a decade. Two very different tests, two spots in the quarterfinals up for grabs, and a Golden Boot race that’s only getting tighter.
Brazil vs Norway
The numbers say Brazil. History says otherwise.
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On paper, Brazil are the clear favourites: they haven’t missed the Round of 16 since 1990, and a place in the last eight would extend an extraordinary streak. But Norway have a psychological edge going into this one – they’ve never actually lost to Brazil, with two wins and two draws from their four meetings. The most famous of those came at France ’98, a 2-1 shock that Norwegian fans still bring up. Win on Sunday, and Norway are in a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time in their history.
Erling Haaland has scored five goals in his first World Cup. Pics: FIFA/X
Haaland leads the chase, but Brazil aren’t far behind
Erling Haaland has been the story of the tournament for Norway, scoring five goals in his first World Cup and putting himself right in the mix with Lionel Messi, Kylie Mbappé and Harry Kane for the Golden Boot. Brazil aren’t short of firepower either -Vinícius Júnior has four goals and an assist to his name, and Matheus Cunha has found the net three times. Carlo Ancelotti has more than one match-winner to call on if this one’s tight.
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Eight straight quarterfinals and counting
Brazil have reached the quarterfinals in each of their last eight World Cups, a run that speaks for itself. Norway have never got this far before, which is exactly what makes Sunday interesting: an established heavyweight against a team with nothing to lose.
Goals galore for Norway, a brick wall for Brazil
Norway have been fun to watch – ten goals in four matches, but they’ve also leaked eight at the other end, so this won’t be a cagey affair if they have their way. Brazil are the opposite: just two goals conceded all tournament, and they’ve shown they can grind out a result too, coming from behind to beat Japan in the Round of 32 thanks to a Gabriel Martinelli winner deep into stoppage time. Attack versus defence, in its purest form.
Players to watch
Norway: Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa
Brazil: Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha, Lucas Paquetá
England vs Mexico
Playing Mexico, in Mexico, is never easy.
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England go in as favourites, but Mexico haven’t lost at the Mexico City Stadium since 2013 – that’s the kind of home record that unsettles visiting teams before a ball is even kicked. Then again, England know how to navigate a knockout run, having reached at least the quarterfinals in three of their last four World Cups.
England skipper Harry Kane will have to be at his best against co-hosts Mexico
Something has to give
Mexico have built their whole tournament around defending well — four clean sheets on the trot to get here. England aren’t easy to break down either, but they don’t need to rely on defence alone: Harry Kane has five goals and is firmly in the Golden Boot conversation, Jude Bellingham is pulling the strings in midfield, and Anthony Gordon keeps causing problems out wide.
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A tight one on the cards
Here’s the stat that sums it up: Mexico haven’t conceded a single goal in four matches, and England have let in just three. When the two best defences left in the competition meet, it rarely turns into a shootout — expect this to hinge on one moment of quality rather than an avalanche of goals.
Knockout football doesn’t get easier
England needed everything they had to see off DR Congo in the Round of 32, a reminder that nothing in the knockouts comes easy. Mexico, for their part, have quietly built a reputation as one of the tournament’s most disciplined outfits – tight at the back, quick to break. With a home crowd behind them, El Tri will fancy their chances of pulling off a statement win over a European giant.
Players to watch
England: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon
Mexico: Raúl Jiménez, Roberto Alvarado, Julián Quiñones
Two contests, two very different stories, but both will help shape who’s left standing as the World Cup heads into its final stretch. Can Brazil end Norway’s fairytale run, or will Haaland write another chapter? Can England hold their nerve in front of a hostile Mexico City crowd? Sunday should have some answers.
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